Q.12 Write appropriate equations to represent Ammonification.
Best answer
Answer: Ammonification is the conversion of organic nitrogen of dead plants and animals and their wastes into ammonia by decomposers (ammonifying bacteria such as Bacillus ramosus, B. vulgaris, actinomycetes and fungi).
1. Proteolysis (hydrolysis of proteins):
\(\text{Proteins} \xrightarrow{\text{proteolytic enzymes}} \text{Polypeptides} \rightarrow \text{Amino acids}\)
2. Oxidative deamination of amino acids:
\(\text{R–CH(NH}_2\text{)–COOH} + \tfrac{1}{2}\text{O}_2 \rightarrow \text{R–CO–COOH} + \text{NH}_3\)
(amino acid → keto acid + ammonia)
3. Ammonia dissolves in soil water: \(\text{NH}_3 + \text{H}_2\text{O} \rightarrow \text{NH}_4\text{OH} \rightleftharpoons \text{NH}_4^{+} + \text{OH}^{-}\)
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