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Nitrogen is a primary element in soil and is an essential nutrient for plant growth. The abbreviation for the element nitrogen is "N", but nitrogen can take many forms within the environment. Some of these are nitrate ( NO3- ) nitrite (NO2- ), ammonia ( NH3 ), ammonium ( NH4+ ), nitrogen dioxide ( N20 ), nitric oxide ( NO ), and nitrogen gas ( N2 ). There are numerous ways nitrogen enters the soil, such as in rainfall and snowfall; inputs from plants, animals, and microorganisms; as well as from using fertilizers, composts, and other ammendments to soil. Nitrogen changes its form within the soil by the following nitrogen cycle processes: ammonification, denitrification, erosion, immobilization, leaching, mineralization, nitrification, runoff, volatilization, and uptake by plants. Because nitrogen transforms easily it is difficult to manage and often ends up in excess in the environment, causing water pollution and expelling gases into the atmosphere that contribute to Earth's greenhouse effect. Here is a fun game that you can play to learn about the Nitrogen cycle! THE NITROGEN FATE TRANSFORMATIONS GAME (NFTG) (designed and written by Jessica G. Davis; Journal of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Education, Volume 26, No. 2, 1997) Rules of the Game: Players start the game as Organic N in the red zone on the game board and go through transformation to ammonium (NH4+) in the yellow zone. Then they continue as nitrate (NO3-) in the orange zone and try to make their way to their goal of crop uptake in the green zone. However, chutes and ladders on the game board can help or hinder the players on their way to the green zone. If they are volatilized or denitrified they end up in the white zone/Air; if they are leached they end up in the blue zone/Groundwater; if they are eroded or runoff they go to the surface water/Aqua Zone. Ending up in the white zone, blue zone, or aqua zone means they are disqualified from the game. Using the small game board Three or six students can play using one small game board. Three tokens are provided with each token representing three different types of organic N ( colored tokens work well: green representing legume N, yellow representing crop residue N, and black representing manure N). (Playing Options) Each player takes turns spinning a spinner that is numbered from 1 through 8 and then move the corresponding number of squares across the game board (no diagonal moves permitted). The player that spins the highest number begins the game and each player takes one turn at a time, starting just off the gameboard next to Square 1. Two or more players can stop on any square at the same time. (If a spinner cannot be made, a die could be rolled.) If a player arrives at the base of a ladder he or she will automatically move up the ladder to the top, as ladders lead up only. Should the player land at the top of a slide they must slide down to the bottom, as slides lead down only. Ladders include mineralization, nitrification, denitrification, and volatilization processes. Slides represent immobilization, erosion, leaching, and runoff. The first player to make it to Crop Uptake (Square 25) wins the game!!! Using the large game board Three students play the NFTG using a large game board displayed at the front of the class while classmates observe. The teacher calls three volunteers from the class, giving them colored hats to represent the type of Organic N the colors symbolize (e.g. a green hat for legume N, a yellow hat for crop residue N and a black hat for manure N). (Playing Options) Each player takes turns spinning a spinner that is numbered from 1 through 8 and then move the corresponding number of squares across the game board (no diagonal moves permitted). The player that spins the highest number begins the game and each player takes one turn at a time, starting just off the gameboard next to Square 1. Two or more players can stop on any square at the same time. (If a spinner cannot be made, a die could be rolled.) If a player arrives at the base of a ladder he or she will automatically move up the ladder to the top, as ladders lead up only. Should the player land at the top of a slide they must slide down to the bottom, as slides lead down only. Ladders include mineralization, nitrification, denitrification, and volatilization processes. Slides represent immobilization, erosion, leaching, and runoff. The first player to make it to Crop Uptake (Square 25) wins the game!!! click on thumbnail to see a larger NFTG game board image (187K) How to make the NFTG Game Board Additional information for teachers

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