All of the statements about the nitrogen cycle are true except one. that is a) lightning breaks nitrogen molecules so it can combine with oxygen. b) putting man-made fertilizers on farm fields exceeds natural nitrogen levels in the soil. c) bacteria located in the soil trap excess nitrogen and to remove it from plant roots. d) although nitrogen is the most abundant atmospheric gas, plants cannot use it from the air.

C) bacteria located in the soil trap excess nitrogen and help to remove it from plant roots.  

Explanation:

Nitrogen is an inert or non-reactive gas and is approximately in the atmosphere. Though, nitrogen gas is not available for the use by plants. Rhizobium, a bacteria present in the root nodules of the leguminous plants as a symbiotic partner, fixes most of the atmospheric nitrogen into usable form such as ammonium (NH₄) or nitrate (NO₃) ions. These usable form used by plants to make their proteins, nucleic acids and other cellular constituents. Thus, bacteria located in the soil  does not fix nitrogen and help to remove it from plant roots.