review questions

Hi, I am very confused by those 2 question: 1- how is nitrification useful to the organism which carry it out? first, i think about symbiotic relation between them and conversion of NH4 to NO3 2- how can nitrification influence soil pH sorry.. i may need some hints, cuz i have no idea right now thanks!!

XiaotongWang (talk)‎

Nitrification is a biological oxidation of ammonium to nitrite and the oxidation of nitrite to nitrate. The 1st step of nitrification is carried out by bacteria Nitrosomonas sp. (under aerobic conditions). Nitrosomonas is a chemo-autotroph which utilizes energy released during oxidation, and synthesize their organic matter from carbon dioxide. The second step of nitrification is carried out by a chemo-autotroph bacteria Nitrobacter for the same reason - it uses energy and C released during oxydation.

Nitrification acidifies the soil, since it yields nitric acid, with 2 hydrogen ions tending to be produced for every ammonium ion nitrified:

NH4+ + 2O2 = NO3- + 2H+ + H2O

and the fact that H+ ions are released in this reaction explains the acidification of the soil

MajaKrzic (talk)‎