In: Biology
Organisms, which fix atmospheric nitrogen in the soil, fall under the category of
(a) bacteria
(b) green algae
(c) soil fungi
(d) mosses.
Organisms, which fix atmospheric nitrogen in the soil are come under bateria. Because they are the only prokaryotic oraganims who have certain enzymes (nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase) which are responsible for nitrogen fixation. These bacterias are either free living like Azospirillum and Azotobacter or associated undef symbiotic relation like Rhizlbium sp. Although some algal species can also fix atmospheric nitrogen which are known as blue green algae or cyanobacteria. Only these algal species are reported as nitrogen fixing algae or bacteria whereas, other algal organisms like green algae are truly photosynthetic and donot fix nitrogen. Soil fungi are saprophytic in nature and donot possess any enzyme which can fix atmospheric nitrogen to soil. Mosses are are photosynthetic bryophytes and donot perform nitrogen fixation whereas other bryophytic members like liverworts can do it because of symbioltic association with some cyanobacterial species.