ammonification

American  

[uh-mon-uh-fi-key-shuhn, uh-moh-nuh-] / əˌmɒn ə fɪˈkeɪ ʃən, əˌmoʊ nə- /

noun

1. the act of impregnating with ammonia, as in the manufacture of fertilizer.

2. the state of being so impregnated.

3. the formation of ammonia or its compounds by decomposition of organic matter.

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Etymology

Origin of ammonification

First recorded in 1885–90; ammoni(a) + -fication

Example Sentences

This process occurs in three steps in terrestrial systems: ammonification, nitrification, and denitrification.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

A similar process occurs in the marine nitrogen cycle, where the ammonification, nitrification, and denitrification processes are performed by marine bacteria.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

Another source of ammonia is ammonification, the process by which ammonia is released during the decomposition of nitrogen-containing organic compounds.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

A similar process occurs in the marine nitrogen cycle, where the ammonification, nitrification, and denitrification processes are performed by marine bacteria and archaea.

From Textbooks • Apr. 25, 2013

Technically the last two steps in the process are nitrification proper; but, speaking generally, the term nitrification is used to include the three steps, or both ammonification and nitrification proper.

From The Story of the Soil; from the Basis of Absolute Science and Real Life, by Hopkins, Cyril G. (Cyril George)