Nitrospira

bacteria

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July 1, 2026

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Nitrospira are a type of nitrifying bacterium that play a crucial role in the nitrogen cycle. These aerobic bacteria are essential for converting ammonia in soil into nitrates, a form of nitrogen that plants can readily absorb. This process, known as nitrification, involves two main groups of bacteria: those that convert ammonia to nitrites, such as Nitrosomonas and Nitrospira, and those that convert nitrites to nitrates, like Nitrobacter. Nitrites are toxic to plants, making the conversion to nitrates by bacteria like Nitrospira vital for healthy plant growth and agriculture.1

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nitrifying bacterium
…convert ammonia to nitrites (Nitrosomonas, Nitrosospira, Nitrosococcus, and Nitrosolobus) and bacteria that convert nitrites (toxic to plants) to nitrates (Nitrobacter, Nitrospina, and Nitrococcus). In agriculture, irrigation with dilute solutions of ammonia results in an increase in soil nitrates through the action of nitrifying bacteria.
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…convert ammonia to nitrites (Nitrosomonas, Nitrosospira, Nitrosococcus, and Nitrosolobus) and bacteria that convert nitrites (toxic to plants) to nitrates (Nitrobacter, Nitrospina, and Nitrococcus). In agriculture, irrigation with dilute solutions of ammonia results in an increase in soil nitrates through the action of nitrifying bacteria.
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