Nitrogen Cycle steps:
N molecules breaking apart via nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
Animals ingest nitrogen in nitrate-containing food after plants use nitrogen-containing compounds.
The organic matter decays via decomposers
N2 is formed via denitrifying bacteria.
Explanation:
The nitrogen-fixing bacteria removes atmospheric nitrogen by fixing nitrogen through nitrification. The atmospheric nitrogen cannot be absorbed by plants and hence has to be converted into nitrates. This conversion takes place by nitrifying bacteria present in leguminous plants.
Animals (herbivores) consume the plants that have absorbed nitrogen/
When these animals die, decomposing bacteria acts on the dead organic matter, decomposition takes place through ammonification, converting the organic nitrates into ammonia
The nitrates are converted back again to nitrogen by the action of denitrifying bacteria.
The nitrogen thus formed is released to the atmosphere
