What is the process of converting organic nitrogen to inorganic nitrogen called?

The process of converting organic nitrogen to inorganic nitrogen is known as mineralization. During mineralization, microorganisms break down organic matter—such as plant and animal residues—releasing nitrogen in a form that plants can readily absorb, primarily in the form of ammonium. This process is crucial in the nitrogen cycle as it transforms nitrogen that is locked in organic materials into inorganic forms that are accessible to plants, thereby facilitating nutrient availability in soils.

In contrast, immobilization refers to the process where inorganic nitrogen is incorporated into microbial biomass, thereby making it temporarily unavailable to plants. Decomposition involves the breakdown of organic matter by bacteria and fungi, which does include mineralization as a part of the process but is broader in scope. Nitrification is specific to the conversion of ammonium into nitrate by certain bacteria in the soil and occurs after mineralization has taken place. By understanding these processes, it becomes clear that mineralization is specifically focused on the conversion of organic forms of nitrogen to inorganic forms.