Question

What is the difference between nitrification, denitrification, ammonification and nitrogen fixation?

Answer 1

Answer:

The nitrification, denitrification, ammonification and nitrogen fixation are the different steps of the nitrogen cycle which converts the one form of nitrogen compound to another nitrogen compound.

1.  Nitrification: the oxidation of the ammonia to the nitrites and later to nitrates through nitrifying bacteria like Nitrosomonas.

2. Denitrification: The reduction of the nitrites and nitrates to the atmospheric nitrogen by denitrifying organisms like decomposers, bacteria and others.

3. Ammonification: The process which converts the reduced organic nitrogen to the available ammonia ions.

4. Nitrogen fixation: The process by which the atmospheric nitrogen is fixed to the biosphere by the bacteria, lightning.