Actually nitrogen exist in the atmosphere in dinitrogen (N2) form and cannot be utilized directly. As such bacteria help in converting atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia which then can be used by the...
Bacteria breaks down the nitrogen into nitrates that can be consumed by plants. Although the air is made up of about 70% nitrogen, plants cannot use nitrogen in this N2 form. Nitrogen fixing bacteria...
Some bacteria have the ability to "fix" nitrogen, that is they can utilize gaseous (atmospheric) nitrogen to produce organic compounds. (They can all break down compounds to free nitrogen too.)
Although the air is made up of about 70% nitrogen, plants cannot use nitrogen in this N2 form. Nitrogen fixing bacteria change nitrogen into the form of soluble nitrates so that plants can use it....