BRAINCAKEDenitrification
Denitrification is the conversion of nitrate ions (NO3−) in the soil into nitrogen gas (N2), which returns to the atmosphere. It is carried out by denitrifying bacteria.
Denitrifying bacteria are active in anaerobic conditions, for example in waterlogged or compacted soils where the air spaces are filled with water. In the absence of oxygen, they use nitrate in place of oxygen in their respiration, converting it to nitrogen gas.
Denitrification completes the nitrogen cycle by returning fixed nitrogen to the air. For a farmer, however, it is a problem: it removes nitrate that crops could have used, so it reduces soil fertility and lowers yield.
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More in Nutrient Cycles
- The Nitrogen Cycle
- Nitrogen Fixation
- Ammonification
- Nitrification
- The Phosphorus Cycle
- Mycorrhizae
- Natural and Artificial Fertilisers
- Effects of Fertilisers on Productivity
All 13 lessons in Nutrient Cycles · All AQA A-level Biology topics