Question

Difficulty: EasyNutrient and Biogeochemical Cycles

Which of the following soil bacteria is directly responsible for converting nitrites into nitrates during the nitrogen cycle?

  1. NitrobacterAnswer
  2. B
    Nitrosomonas
  3. C
    Rhizobium
  4. D
    Pseudomonas

Answer

Nitrobacter
Nitrification is a two-step aerobic bacterial conversion. In the first step, Nitrosomonas oxidizes ammonia into nitrites (NO2NO_2^-). In the second step, Nitrobacter oxidizes nitrites into nitrates (NO3NO_3^-), which is the primary form of nitrogen absorbed by plant roots.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the stage of the nitrogen cycle described in the question.
The stage involving the oxidation of nitrites (NO2NO_2^-) into nitrates (NO3NO_3^-) is the second step of nitrification.
Nitrification occurs in two sequential steps mediated by distinct chemoautotrophic bacteria.
2
Match the appropriate bacterial genus to this specific chemical transformation.
Nitrosomonas converts ammonia (NH3NH_3) to nitrite (NO2NO_2^-), whereas Nitrobacter converts nitrite (NO2NO_2^-) to nitrate (NO3NO_3^-).
Nitrobacter derives metabolic energy specifically from the oxidation of nitrite to nitrate.

Key Concept

Nitrification process in the nitrogen cycle
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