Nitrification

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Nitrification \Ni`tri*fi*ca"tion\, n. [Cf. F. nitrification. see
     {Nitrify}.]
     1. (Chem.)
        (a) The act, process, or result of combining with nitrogen
            or some of its compounds.
        (b) The act or process of oxidizing nitrogen or its


            compounds so as to form nitrous or nitric acid.
            [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A process of oxidation, in which nitrogenous vegetable and
        animal matter in the presence of air, moisture, and some
        basic substances, as lime or alkali carbonate, is
        converted into nitrates.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The process is going on at all times in porous soils
           and in water contaminated with nitrogenous matter, and
           is supposed to be due to the presence of a bacteria,
           such as members of the genus {Azotobacter}, formerly
           called nitrification ferments. In former times the
           process was extensively made use of in the production
           of saltpeter.
           [1913 Webster +PJC]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  nitrification
       n 1: the chemical process in which a nitro group is added to an
            organic compound (or substituted for another group in an
            organic compound)
       2: the oxidation of ammonium compounds in dead organic material
          into nitrates and nitrites by soil bacteria (making
          nitrogen available to plants)