Question

Mention one difference between nitrification and denitrification.

Answer 1

These processes are two steps that are involved in the assimilation and fixation of nitrogen that together constitutes to form a nitrogen cycle. They are important in helping the plants to absorb the nitrogen.

Complete step by step answer:
The Formation of different organic nitrogen compounds from inorganic nitrogen compounds is called Nitrogen assimilation.

Nitrification	Denitrification
The conversion of ammonia into nitrites is known as nitrification.	The conversion of nitrates into nitrogen is known as denitrification.
The microorganisms that are responsible for the process of nitrification are known as ammonia-oxidizers	The bacteria that are responsible for the process of denitrification is known as denitrifying bacteria.
This process involves various enzymes in the absence of oxygen.	Most nitrification occurs aerobically, in the presence of oxygen.
The complete process of nitrification requires two different enzymes, ammonia monooxygenase, and hydroxylamine oxidoreductase.	The complete process of denitrification includes the use of nitrate reductase, nitrite reductase, nitric oxide reductase, and nitrous oxide reductase.
The process generates a very small amount of energy relative to several other sorts of metabolism.	The process of denitrification gives energy to the form of ATP.
The end product of this process is the nitrate compound.	The end products of this process are one molecule of nitrogen, and six molecules of water.
The process of nitrification increases soil fertility as the soil absorbs nitrates to the environment.	The process of denitrification decreases soil fertility as the soil losses nitrates to the environment.

Note: The process of nitrogen fixation is done by diazotrophic microorganisms, especially bacteria (azotobacter) and archaea. It involves coenzymes like NADPH and FAD/FMN. It is a two-step process and the second step requires ferredoxin as a catalyst. It occurs in the leguminous plants which show a symbiotic relationship between the root nodules and bacteria. It was first described by the German agronomist Hermann Hellriegel, and Dutch microbiologist Martinus Beijerinck.