Denitrifying bacteria
A) make nitrogen available for assimilation.
B) decompose organic nitrogen compounds into nitrate.
C) decompose organic nitrogen compounds into ammonia.
D) fix nitrogen into ammonia.
E) convert nitrate into atmospheric nitrogen.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Denitrifying bacteria convert nitrate (NO3-) into nitrogen gas (N2), releasing it back into the atmosphere and completing the nitrogen cycle. This process reduces the amount of nitrogen available in the soil for plants, contrasting with nitrogen-fixing bacteria that convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can assimilate.

Denitrifying Bacteria