Biology A-Level
ammonification
What ammonification means in Biology A-Level, as defined for AQA.
Definitions of ammonification
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Reference: AQA
The nitrogen in amino acids is surplus to the saprobiont's needs, so it is deaminated and released as ammonia, which dissolves to give ammonium ions.
Saprobiotic bacteria and fungi secrete enzymes onto dead matter and waste, releasing nitrogen as ammonia that forms ammonium ions in soil.
Topics that use ammonification
- Nutrient cycles (A-level only) (AQA A-Level)
Related terms
- algal bloom
- artificial fertilisers
- decomposers
- denitrification
- eutrophication
- extracellular digestion
- ion availability
- leaching
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