Summarize the three steps of the nitrogen cycle
1) Nitrogen fixation: This is the process in which atmospheric nitrogen is converted into ammonia by bacteria such as Rhizobia, which can be used by plants as nutrients.
2) Nitrification: This process involves the oxidation of ammonia into nitrite and then into nitrate by bacteria such as Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter. Plants can take up nitrate and use it for growth.
3) Denitrification: This is the process in which nitrate is converted back into atmospheric nitrogen by bacteria such as Pseudomonas. This returns nitrogen back to the atmosphere and completes the nitrogen cycle.