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Soil Microbiology Nature of Soil Soil Habitats (Lithosphere) Microorganisms in Soil Decomposition of Organic Matter in Soil Bacteria in Soil Physiological Types of Bacteria in Different Soils Fungi in Soil Protozoa in Soil Algae in Soil Viruses in Soil Functions of Microorganisms in Soil Humus Functions of Humus Cycles of Elements Carbon Cycle Nitrogen Cycle

Ammonification in Soil

	Ammonification in Soil -Proteins and other organic nitrogenous com pounds of living and dead organisms, which find their way into the soil are decomposed by microorganisms. These compounds are hydrolyzed by various proteolytic enzymes to amino acids and similar compounds. The amino groups (NH₂) are split off to form ammonia (NH₃). Release of ammonia from organic nitrogenous compounds is termed ammonification.
Proteolytic enzymes are elaborated by some clostridia, many fungi, and actinomycetes and to a lesser degree by Pseudomonas, Bacillus, and Proteus species. The ultimate products of proteolysis are amino acids. Amino acids are deaminated under aerobic conditions (oxidative deamination), with the liberation of ammonia. However, if protein decomposition occurs under anaerobic condition, amino acids arc converted to amines and related compound (putrefaction).
These reactions are most commonly brought about by Clostridium species. Eventually amines are oxidized in the presence of air with liberation of ammonia. Similarly urea present in the urine of man and animals is also decomposed with liberation of ammonia by several microorganisms special1y, by micrococcus species proteus species etc. Ammonium ion is toxic even at low ton concentration and is therefore never allowed to accumulate.
Most of it is assimilated by soil microorganisms and some of it is utilized by plants as a source of nitrogen. Under favourable conditions it is oxidized first to nitrite and them to nitrate by specific groups of organisms.

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Sulphur Cycle Ammonification in Soil Nitrification in Soil Nitrate Reduction in Soil Denitrification in Soil Nitrogen Fixation Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation Rhizobium Specificity of Bacteria and Legumes Non-Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation Non-symbiotic Nitrogen Fixing Microorganisms Mechanism of Nitrogen Fixation Oxidation of Sulphur and Sulphur Compounds by Bacteria

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