Final answer:
Rhizobia bacteria are crucial for sustainable agriculture, converting atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia for plant use and improving soil health, thus reducing the need for chemical fertilizers.
Step-by-step explanation:
Nitrogen-fixing bacteria, such as rhizobia, play a pivotal role in sustainable agriculture by providing a natural and effective means of fertilizing plants. These bacteria form a symbiotic relationship with the roots of leguminous plants, resulting in biofertilizers that effectively convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, a form of nitrogen that plants can readily use for growth.
Not only does this process provide plants with an essentially endless supply of nitrogen, but it also benefits the soil by adding nutrients and improves the overall ecosystem by reducing the need for chemical fertilizers. Legumes such as clover, alfalfa, and beans host these nitrogen-fixing bacteria in specialized structures called nodules. The symbiotic relationship is mutually beneficial, as the plants receive essential nutrients, while the bacteria gain carbohydrates produced during photosynthesis and a protected environment to live in.