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ammonification
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Diagram illustrating the nitrogen cycle, showing how nitrogen moves between the atmosphere, biosphere, and soil through natural processes like nitrogen fixation, assimilation, ammonification, nitrification, and denitrification, as well as through human activities such as fertilizer use and industrial emissions. Blue arrows indicate natural activities, and red arrows indicate human activities.
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ammonification

biology
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Diagram illustrating the nitrogen cycle, showing how nitrogen moves between the atmosphere, biosphere, and soil through natural processes like nitrogen fixation, assimilation, ammonification, nitrification, and denitrification, as well as through human activities such as fertilizer use and industrial emissions. Blue arrows indicate natural activities, and red arrows indicate human activities.
nitrogen cycle The nitrogen cycle.

Ammonification is a crucial step in the nitrogen cycle. This biological process involves the decomposition of organic matter, such as the remains of living organisms and their waste products, by microorganisms.1

During ammonification, these microbes break down nitrogen-containing compounds, releasing ammonia (NH₃) and ammonium (NH₄⁺) into the soil. This ammonia can then be further transformed into other nitrogen compounds or leave the soil. This process is essential for making nitrogen available in a usable form for plants, which is vital for all life on Earth.1

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3 Britannica Sources
  1. nitrogen cycle
  2. nitrifying bacterium
  3. metabolism - Disposal of nitrogen

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