Step 1: Nitrogen fixation overview.
Nitrogen fixation can be symbiotic (e.g., Rhizobium in legumes) or non-symbiotic (free-living organisms).
It can also be autotrophic (algae, cyanobacteria) or heterotrophic (bacteria like Azotobacter).
Step 2: Aerobic vs anaerobic fixers.
- Aerobic non-symbiotic fixers: Azotobacter.
- Anaerobic non-symbiotic fixers: Clostridium.
- Autotrophic fixers: Blue Green Algae, Nostoc.
Step 3: Analysis of options.
- (A) Blue Green Algae: Autotrophic nitrogen fixers, not heterotrophic.
- (B) Nostoc: Symbiotic cyanobacterium, autotrophic.
- (C) Clostridium: Heterotrophic but anaerobic, not aerobic.
- (D) Azotobacter: Correct, heterotrophic, aerobic, free-living nitrogen fixer.
Step 4: Conclusion.
Thus, Azotobacter is the correct answer.