Which process is NOT part of the nitrogen cycle?

Photosynthesis is the process that plants use to convert carbon dioxide and water into sugars using sunlight, and it is not involved in the nitrogen cycle. The nitrogen cycle is a series of processes by which nitrogen and its compounds are interconverted in the environment and in living organisms. It includes processes such as ammonification, where organic nitrogen is converted into ammonia; nitrification, where ammonia is converted to nitrites and then to nitrates; and denitrification, where nitrates are converted back to nitrogen gas, returning it to the atmosphere.

In this context, photosynthesis does not contribute to the transformation or cycling of nitrogen but rather focuses on carbon compounds and energy capture. Understanding the specific roles of these processes helps clarify their contributions within their respective cycles in ecosystems.