What is the nitrogen cycle?

What does poop have to do with the nitrogen cycle?

• Could someone explain to me what poop has to do with the nitrogen cycle? Does it release it into the soil or something? Need to know soon. Good chance at being best answer if you answer this.

• Answer:

  Plants are the main users of nitrogen in the soil. They are able to take in the nitrates through their root system. Once inside the plant, the nitrates are used in organic compound that let the plant survive. Organic compounds have carbon atoms. Those compounds might be proteins, enzymes, or nucleic acids. Once the plants have converted the nitrogen, the element can be returned to the soil or taken up by animals. Herbivores eat plants and convert many of the amino acids into new proteins. Omnivores that eat both plants and animals are able to take in the nitrogen rich compounds as well. The nitrogen compounds are only borrowed. Nitrogen atoms are returned to the soil in poop and dead organisms. Once in the soil, the whole process can start again.