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what is ammonification?
Ammonification

When plants and animals die, bacteria convert nitrogen nutrients back into ammonium salts and ammonia. This conversion process is called ammonification. Anaerobic bacteria can convert ammonia into nitrogen gas through the process of denitrification :

NO3- + CH2O + H+ ? ½ N2O + CO2 + 1½ H2O

Denitrification returns nitrogen to the atmosphere, completing the cycle.


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