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Soil nitrogen gas

Cross section of clover growing in soil and nitrogen gas labels.

Nitrogen gas makes up about 80% of the gases in the atmosphere and in the soil and can be fixed by specific microbes in conjunction with plants such as clover. Those plants can be eaten by cows or other animals and then excreted, which allows the fixed nitrogen to enter the rest of the ecosystem and start a cycle through other plants and animals.

Glossary

Rights: The University of Waikato Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato
Published: 30 July 2013Size: 440.93 KB
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