NITROGEN POOLS
ATMOSPHERE
N₂
Dinitrogen
200
SOIL
NH₄⁺
Ammonium
15
NO₂⁻
Nitrite
0
NO₃⁻
Nitrate
10
R-NH₂
Organic N
80
LOSSES (BAD!)
N₂O
Nitrous Oxide
0
NO₃⁻↓
Leached
0
ENVIRONMENT
Moisture
50%
Oxygen
60%
⚗ THE NITROGEN CYCLE ⚗
Click molecules in-game to learn more! (Press ESC to close)
ATMOSPHERE
N₂
Dinitrogen (78% of air)
▼
FIXATION
🦠 Rhizobium
SOIL
NH₄⁺
Ammonium
Plant food!
→→→
Nitrosomonas
NO₂⁻
Nitrite
⚠ Toxic!
→→→
Nitrobacter
NO₃⁻
Nitrate
Plant food!
↑ NITRIFICATION (needs O₂) ↑
Organic N
Dead matter
Decomposers
▼
→ NH₄⁺
PLANT
Your goal!
GROW ME!
← NH₄⁺/NO₃⁻
Root uptake
▲
Death
DENITRIFICATION
NO₃⁻ → N₂ or N₂O
🦠 Pseudomonas
(needs LOW O₂)
↗
N₂ (safe)
↗
N₂O (bad!)
⚠ LOSSES ⚠
N₂O
Greenhouse gas
300x CO₂!
Leached
NO₃⁻ in water
Pollution!
← Heavy rain
▲▲▲
N₂ returns to atmosphere
KEY BACTERIA
Rhizobium - Fixes N₂ in root nodules
Nitrosomonas - NH₄⁺ → NO₂⁻
Nitrobacter - NO₂⁻ → NO₃⁻
Pseudomonas - Denitrifies NO₃⁻
🎮 GAMEPLAY TIPS
⚡ FIX - Convert atmospheric N₂ → NH₄⁺ (basic plant food)
🍂 DECOMPOSE - Break down organic matter → NH₄⁺
⚗ NITRIFY 1→2 - NH₄⁺ → NO₂⁻ → NO₃⁻. NO₃⁻ gives +50% FEED BONUS!
🌱 FEED - Give nitrogen to your plant! NO₃⁻ is 50% better than NH₄⁺!
♻ DENITRIFY - Reduce NO₃⁻ when high to prevent leaching & toxicity
⚠ WATCH OUT - NO₂⁻ is toxic! N₂O is a greenhouse gas! Leaching pollutes water!
SEED
N absorbed: 0
PLANT HEALTH
100 HP
ATMOSPHERE
Clean
WATER
Clean
TEMPERATURE
50+
40
30
20
20°C