What happens in the nitrogen cycle?

5 steps in the Nitrogen Cycle

Fixation - Special bacteria convert the  nitrogen gas (N2 ) to ammonia (NH3) which the plants can use.

Nitrification - Nitrification is the process which  converts the ammonia into nitrite ions which the plants can  take in as nutrients.

Assimilation - Assimilation is the process by which plants and animals incorporate the NO3- and ammonia formed through nitrogen fixation and nitrification.

Ammonification - After all of the living organisms  have used the nitrogen, decomposer bacteria convert the  nitrogen-rich waste compounds into simpler ones.

Denitrification - Denitrification is the final step in  which other bacteria convert the simple nitrogen compounds  back into nitrogen gas (N2 ), which is then released back into  the atmosphere to begin the cycle again.