How do bacteria help in nitrogen fixation from the atmosphere and nitrogen is removed from the atmosphere what compound is it most commonly converted into?
Hello!
Azolla-Anabaena symbiosis (commonly present in rice lowland production) is able to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere and potentially supply the rhizosphere in rice growing fields.
Besides free-living bacteria (azobacter e.g.) fixing nitrogen for their own needs.
Nevertheless, the rhizobial bacteria interacts with legumes (fabaceae spp.), which are commonly the N-fixing symbionts in agriculture. Herby, atmospheric N2 is fixed & converted (with the help of the enzyme complex nitrogenase) into ammonia (NH4+) in the so-called nodules (plant-derived organs).
All in all, regarding to the accumulation of atmospheric nitrogen in the soil, the post-harvest index needs to be considered! E.g. crop residues from chickpeas are less nitrogen-rich compared to the harvested pods!.
Hope, that it is answering your question!