What is denitrification

Denitrification is basically a biochemical phenomenon where nitrate is used by the bacteria living in the soil for the process of their respiration instead of using Oxygen from the air, consequently, the nitrates are converted into nitrous oxide and nitrogen gas. The process of denitrification is accelerated mostly in the wet and warm soil where there is lot of nitrate available.

This process is exhibited by Alkaligenes, Pseudomonas and Bacillus etc. Most of the bacteria involved in this process are facultative aerobially heterophs who has the ability of switching to denitrification from normal respiration when they find that the normal oxygen is running out.