Chapter 30, Problem 1RC

Summary Introduction

To determine: The idea about the global impact that microbes possess on carbon and nitrogen cycling

Introduction: Carbon and nitrogen cycle are the pathways, in which carbon and nitrogen gas become available to the organisms, through the various means. The gases after use convert back into the original form helped by several factors so that the regulation of gases can be maintained.

Explanation of Solution

Microbes are the key factors regulating various types of gases in the environment, which these microbes utilize, and for the utilization purpose, these microbes break down the complex organic compounds into the simpler and consumable forms. Such as nitrogen remains present in the atmosphere in the form of molecular nitrogen, which cannot be available to the plants. However, the root living microbes which survive on the leguminous plant roots fix the nitrogen in the form of nitrates, which is absorbed by the plants.

Similarly, carbon dioxide is an essentialgas of the atmospheric as well as greenhouse gases. The overmisuse of carbon dioxide and the industrial revolution have made carbon flux to be increased uptoten folds by annual. However, the microbes play a role in fixing the atmospheric CO₂ by involving in the global carbon cycle to sequester the management of carbon emission. The mostcommon carbon fixing microbes are phototrophic and autotrophic.