What is the difference between nitrification and denitrification?
Nitrogen cycle:
Nitrification:
The oxidation process of ammonia to nitrite and then to nitrate is known as nitrification.
Denitrification:
The process by which nitrate reduces to nitrogen is called denitrification.
Nitrification | Denitrification |
The oxidation process of ammonia to nitrite and then to nitrate is known as nitrification. | The process by which nitrate reduces to nitrogen is called denitrification. |
Bacteria such as Nitrosomonas and Nitrococcus oxidize ammonia to nitrite, and nitrite is oxidized to nitrate by Nitrobacter. | Pseudomonas and Thiobacillus reduce nitrate to nitrogen. |
Aerobic respiration | Anaerobic respiration |
Autotrophic mode of nutrition. | The mode of nutrition is heterotrophic. |
The by-product is Nitrate NO3– | The by-product is Nitrogen N. |
The minimum temperature required for this process is between 16° and 35°C. | The minimum temperature required is 26°-38°C. |
The optimum pH is between 6 and 8. | The optimum pH is between 6 and 8. |