Which of the following is NOT a pathway for nitrogen loss?

In the context of nitrogen loss, the correct answer is related to the processes through which nitrogen can be removed from the soil or water systems. Leaching refers to the process where nitrogen compounds are washed out of the soil into the groundwater due to rainfall or irrigation. Denitrification is a pathway where nitrogen is converted to gaseous forms and released into the atmosphere by microorganisms in anaerobic conditions, effectively removing nitrogen from the soil. Volatilization involves the conversion of nitrogen, particularly in the form of urea or ammonia, into gaseous forms and escaping into the atmosphere.

Infiltration, on the other hand, refers to the process where water enters the soil from the surface, allowing water to permeate into the soil profile. Although infiltration can influence how water moves through the soil and may indirectly affect nitrogen dynamics, it is not a mechanism through which nitrogen is lost from the system. Instead, it relates more to the movement of water rather than the loss of nitrogen, making it the correct response as it does not represent a direct pathway for nitrogen loss.