Nitrogen Cycle

Alan L. Wright andDennis C. Odero

Heather Donnelly, Ashley Smyth, Shirley Baker, Laura K. Reynolds, andAngela B. Collins

Nitrogen is natural and necessary, yet nitrogen levels above natural levels can cause algal blooms and eutrophication of coastal systems. The purpose of this document is to describe how oysters and oyster reefs remove nitrogen. This new 7-page publication of the UF/IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences is intended for policymakers, environmental organizations, and coastal residents who want to know about oysters' role in improving water quality through nitrogen removal. Written by Heather Donnelly, Ashley Smyth, Shirley Baker, Laura Reynolds, and Angela Collins.

Alexander J. Reisinger, Mary G. Lusk, andAshley Smyth

This document describes the urban N cycle for state and county regulatory personnel tasked with developing and implementing nutrient management strategies for water quality protection. Readers of this document would benefit from already having a general understanding of nutrient pollution. Although the material covered here can be fairly complex, this document is intended to provide a more in-depth understanding of the N cycle for a reader with a basic understanding but who is looking for more specific details.

Mary G. Lusk andTanya Charan

The Up in the Air, Down in the Water program is a combined research and education effort of the Urban Water Cycle Lab at the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Hillsborough County, Florida. The purpose of this fact sheet is to explain where the nitrogen (N) in atmospheric deposition comes from, how it moves to Earth’s surface, how it can affect water quality, and how we can better manage atmospherically derived N in our watersheds. Written by Mary G. Lusk and Tanya Charan, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences, October 2025.

Amy L. Shober andAlexander J. Reisinger

This document helps homeowners understand how N interacts in the environment through the nitrogen cycle, making maintenance of home landscapes or gardens easier and more sustainable. This document is SL 254, one of a series of the Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date January 2008. Revised March 2011 and August 2022.

Arun Jani, Michael J. Mulvaney, Mahesh Bashyal, and Hardeep Singh

A UF/IFAS numbered peer reviewed Fact Sheet for Commercial audience(s). in support of UF/IFAS Extension program: Plant Systems