You have to have heard about nitrogen fixing leguminous plants that enrich the soil in which they grow. They’ve the unique capability to fix atmospheric nitrogen in the ground and make their own fertilizers. Truly, these plants do not pull off this feat on their own. They owe partial credit for this effort to their symbiotic relationship with nitrogen fixing bacteria. The leguminous plants provide nutrients to the bacteria in return for which the bacteria fix atmospheric nitrogen through anaerobic processes (processes that function without having oxygen). Let us know much more about these talented nitrogen fixing bacteria and their symbiosis with leguminous plants. You will find other kinds of nitrogen fixing bacteria that we will know about in due course.

Process Utilized By Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria
The primary function of nitrogen fixing bacteria is ‘Survival’ and in their efforts to survive, they enter into a symbiotic relationship with leguminous plants or some survive on their own. As a component of their metabolic cycle, they fix nitrogen. Let us see the method which is utilized by nitrogen fixing bacteria to fix atmospheric nitrogen into the soil and introduce it in nature’s biological cycle. An enzyme which these nitrogen fixation bacteria use is referred to as ‘Nitrogenase’. It’s a chemical which is responsible for nitrogen fixation and without which, this method is impossible. The method at chemical level that enables nitrogen fixation might be summarized inside the following way:

N2 + 6 H+ + 6 e- → 2 NH3

There are numerous complex processes which make this nitrogen fixation achievable and also the reaction above is a simplified one. The end goods are Ammonia (NH3) and water. Nitrogenase, the crucial ingredient which make nitrogen fixation achievable, is destroyed when it comes in contact with Oxygen. So the procedure of fixation in nitrogen fixing bacteria occurs only in anaerobic (oxygen deprived) conditions or the Oxygen is neutralized by its combination with chemicals like Leghemoglobin. Nitrogen fixation is one stage within the nitrogen cycle steps which maintain the balance of this element in nature. Read a lot more on ‘Nitrogen Cycle Diagram’.

Types of Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria
The nitrogen fixing bacteria along with other micro organisms that fix nitrogen are collectively called ‘Diazotrophs‘. You will find several strains of nitrogen fixing bacteria in soil which do this task. They are critical agents in the ‘Nitrogen Cycle’. All the different forms of Diazotrophs have a nitrogen fixing method based on iron-molybdenum nitrogenase. Here can be a list of a few of the symbiotic nitrogen fixing bacteria together with some brief details.

Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria Type#1: Rhizobia
These beneficial bacteria belonging to the genus Rhizobia are primarily found in soil and survive by their symbiotic relationship with legume plants of the ‘Fabaceae‘ loved ones. Their nitrogen fixation procedure cannot be executed with out the assist of their symbiotic partners which are the legume plants. They’re rod shaped and motile bacteria.

Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria Type#2: Frankia
The bacteria belonging to the genus Frankia survive via their symbiotic relationship with Actinorhizal plants that are similar to leguminous plants. These bacteria form nodules in the roots of these plants. They wholly satisfy the nitrogen needs of these plants and indirectly enrich the soil with nitrogen compounds.

Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria Type#3: Cyanobacteria
Some cyanobacteria show symbiotic behavior by their association with lichens, liverworts, a sort of fern plant and Cycad plant. One example of this type of symbiotic nitrogen fixing bacteria is Anabaena.

Besides these, some of the nitrogen fixing bacteria sorts which are free of charge living (non-symbiotic) organisms are:ClostridiumDesulfovibrio Klebsiella PneumoniaeBacillus PolymyxaBacillus MaceransEscherichia IntermediaAzotobacter VinelandiiAnabaena CylindricaNostoc CommuneRhodobacter Sphaeroides Rhodopseudomonas PalustrisRhodobacter CapsulatusThis list of nitrogen fixing bacteria is only representative of a large number of bacterial species that have nitrogen fixing in their metabolic cycle. Hope this write-up has sufficiently informed you about the world of symbiotic nitrogen fixing bacteria which offer an important example of what synergy and teamwork do in nature!