Azotobacter and Clostridium convert

[amp_mcq option1=”gaseous molecular nitrogen into ammonia” option2=”ammonia present in soil to gaseous nitrogen” option3=”humus present in soil to mineralized constituents” option4=”normal healthy soil to toxic soil” correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in

UPSC Geoscientist – 2022

Download PDF Attempt Online

Azotobacter and Clostridium are genera of free-living bacteria known for their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen. Nitrogen fixation is the process by which gaseous molecular nitrogen (N₂, which is abundant in the atmosphere but unusable by most organisms) is converted into ammonia (NH₃), which can then be incorporated into organic molecules usable by plants and other organisms. Azotobacter is aerobic, while Clostridium is anaerobic.

– Azotobacter and Clostridium are free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
– Nitrogen fixation is the conversion of N₂ gas into ammonia (NH₃).
– This process is essential for making nitrogen available in ecosystems.
– Ammonia can be further converted into other nitrogen compounds like nitrates by other bacteria (nitrification).

Nitrogen fixation is a crucial part of the nitrogen cycle. Besides free-living bacteria like Azotobacter and Clostridium, symbiotic bacteria (like Rhizobium in legume root nodules) are also major nitrogen fixers. Denitrification, the conversion of nitrates back to N₂, is carried out by a different group of bacteria.

More similar MCQ questions for Exam preparation:-