Vocabulary Term Details

Nitrogen fixation

Definition (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrogen_fixation)

Nitrogen fixation is a process by which nitrogen (N2) in the atmosphere is converted into ammonia (NH3). Atmospheric nitrogen or molecular nitrogen (N2) is relatively inert: it does not easily react with other chemicals to form new compounds. Fixation processes free up the nitrogen atoms from their diatomic form (N2) to be used in other ways. Nitrogen fixation, natural and synthetic, is essential for all forms of life because nitrogen is required to biosynthesize basic building blocks of plants, animals and other life forms, e.g., nucleotides for DNA and RNA and amino acids for proteins. Therefore nitrogen fixation is essential for agriculture and the manufacture of fertilizer. (Wikipedia)

Preferred Units: N/A

Scope Note:
N/A

Broader TermsNarrower TermsRelated Terms
Biochemical processes
Biological nitrogen fixation
Ammonia
Ammonium fixation
Diazotrophy
Nitrification
Nitrogen
Nitrogen cycle
Nitrogen fixation genes

This term is used for the following terms: 
Dinitrogen fixation
nif

Approved Date
11-Dec-2012

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