Definition of "nitrifying" [nitrifying]

• Describing certain bacteria that oxidize ammonia to nitrite and nitrate in the soil (adjective)

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• "The breaking down of the humus and building of the nitrogen into other substances is the work of another set of bacteria or germs called nitrifying germs."
• "As regards the ammonium carbonate accumulating in the soil from the conversion of urea and other sources, we know from Winogradsky's researches that it undergoes oxidation in two stages owing to the activity of the so-called "nitrifying" bacteria (an unfortunate term inasmuch as"
• "Soil chemosynthesis (nitrifying, hydrogen-oxidizing, iron (Fe2+) - oxidizing, and sulfur c (S) bacteria)"