denitrification
Soil nitrogen escape
Denitrification is a biological process in which bacteria convert nitrates in soil or water into nitrogen gas, which then escapes into the atmosphere.
This occurs naturally in waterlogged or oxygen-poor environments and is an important part of the nitrogen cycle.
Farmers and environmentalists pay attention to denitrification because it can deplete soil nutrients needed for crops, though it also helps remove excess nitrogen from polluted waterways.
Denitrification in the wetland helped reduce nitrate runoff into the lake.
Excess nutrients depleting oxygen
- hypoxiaInsufficient tissue oxygenation
- dead zonesAreas lacking life or signal
- algae bloomsRapid aquatic plant overgrowth
- greenhouse gasHeat-trapping atmospheric compound
water contamination · oxygen depletion · runoff · climate impact · pollution control · wastewater treatment · bioremediation · effluent
Bacterial genus, often pathogenic
- anaerobesOrganisms surviving without oxygen
- biofilmAdhesive layer of microorganisms
- prokaryotesOrganisms without membrane-bound nuclei
- culturesCollective human practices
Not requiring oxygen
- respirationGas exchange in organisms
- redox reactionPaired electron transfer process
- enzymaticInvolving biological catalysts
- electron acceptorSpecies gaining electrons
facultative · heterotrophic · autotrophic · substrate · oxygen-free
Water-saturated terrain
- estuariesRiver-sea meeting points
- sedimentsParticles that settle below
- aquifersWater-bearing rock formations
- groundwaterWater in underground rock
rivers · lakes · marshes · water quality · floodplains · peatlands · benthic · paddy fields
Agricultural production amount
- cover cropsPlants shielding fallow fields
- manureAnimal waste as fertilizer
- waterloggingSoil oversaturated with moisture
- compactionReducing volume through pressure
eutrophication
Excess nutrients depleting oxygen
- hypoxiaInsufficient tissue oxygenation
- dead zonesAreas lacking life or signal
- algae bloomsRapid aquatic plant overgrowth
greenhouse gas · water contamination · oxygen depletion · runoff · climate impact · pollution control · wastewater treatment · bioremediation · effluent · drinking water
Pseudomonas
Bacterial genus, often pathogenic
- anaerobesOrganisms surviving without oxygen
- biofilmAdhesive layer of microorganisms
- prokaryotesOrganisms without membrane-bound nuclei
anaerobic
Not requiring oxygen
- respirationGas exchange in organisms
- redox reactionPaired electron transfer process
- enzymaticInvolving biological catalysts
electron acceptor · facultative · heterotrophic · autotrophic · substrate · oxygen-free
wetlands
Water-saturated terrain
- estuariesRiver-sea meeting points
- sedimentsParticles that settle below
- aquifersWater-bearing rock formations
groundwater · rivers · lakes · marshes · water quality · floodplains · peatlands · benthic · paddy fields
crop yield
Agricultural production amount
- cover cropsPlants shielding fallow fields
- manureAnimal waste as fertilizer
- waterloggingSoil oversaturated with moisture
- Natural Processesphotosynthesis, decomposition, evaporation, erosion, carbon cycle
- chemical reactionscondensation, combustion, oxidation, hydrolysis, oxidation-reduction
- decompositiondecomposition, rot, rotting, autolysis, putrefaction
- biogeochemistrycarbon cycle, oxygen cycle, nutrient cycle, mineralization, nitrification
- soil sciencesoil, topsoil, subsoil, clay, sand
- Anaerobic Processesanaerobic respiration, anaerobe, glycolysis, fermentation, lactic acid
nitroglycerin, nitrogen, nitrate, nitrous, nitrite, nitrates, nitric, nitrous oxide, nitrogenous