Question

How is atmospheric nitrogen converted into a biologically useful form of nitrogen?

Answer 1

Answer:

The atmosphere is the largest reservoir of the nitrogen as it is composed of 78% of Nitrogen. Although 78%, this is not used by the organisms directly as the nitrogen molecule exists in nature in the form of divalent joined via triple bonds.

These triple bonds require a great amount of energy to be broken and used. Only a few prokaryotic organisms called nitrogen-fixing bacteria have the capability to break these triple bonds as they contain enzymes-nitrogenase complex which converts the atmospheric nitrogen to usable forms like ammonia, nitrates and nitrites. About 92% of the atmospheric nitrogen is fixed through this way rest through thunderstorms and Haber's process.

Thus, nitrogen-fixing bacteria is the answer.