How do plants and animals utilize atmospheric nitrogen (N2 gas) for their growth and development?

Plants and animals cannot directly use atmospheric nitrogen (N2 gas) for their growth and development. Instead, certain bacteria in the soil or in the roots of plants can convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can absorb, such as nitrate or ammonium. Plants then take up these nitrogen compounds through their roots and use them to build proteins and other essential molecules. Animals obtain nitrogen by consuming plants or other animals that have already incorporated nitrogen into their tissues.