Denitrifying bacteria reduce nitrate and release molecular nitrogen (N2) or nitrous oxide (N2O) under anoxic conditions. Microorganisms and plants absorb and utilize nitrate for two completely different purposes. One is called assimilation nitrate reduction with nitrogen as nitrogen source: NO3-→NH4+→ organic nitrogen.

Many bacteria, actinomycetes and molds can use nitrate as nitrogen nutrition. Another purpose is to reduce nitric acid to nitrogen (N2) by using NO2- and NO3- as the final electron acceptors of respiration, which is called denitrification or denitrification: NO3-→NO2-→N2↑.

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Microorganisms and plants absorb and utilize nitrate for two completely different purposes. One is called assimilation nitrate reduction with nitrogen as nitrogen source: NO3-→NH4+→ organic nitrogen. Many bacteria, actinomycetes and molds can use nitrate as nitrogen nutrition. Another purpose is to reduce nitric acid to nitrogen (N2) by using NO2- and NO3- as the final electron acceptors of respiration, which is called denitrification or denitrification: NO3-→NO2-→N2↑. Only a few bacteria can carry out denitrification, and this physiological group is called denitrifying bacteria.

Baidu encyclopedia-denitrification reaction