nitrous bacteria
- noun
- /ˈnaɪtrəs bækˈtɪəriə/
- Specialized
- Without sufficient nitrous bacteria, the process of converting ammonia to nitrite would slow drastically.
Examples
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Farmers monitor the activity of nitrous bacteria to maintain healthy soil fertility.
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Nitrous bacteria play a crucial role in the first stage of nitrification in the soil.
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The soil is rich in nitrous bacteria.
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Many farmers rely on nitrous bacteria for healthy crops.
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Nitrous bacteria play a crucial role in the first stage of nitrification in the soil.
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Farmers monitor the activity of nitrous bacteria to maintain healthy soil fertility.
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Without sufficient nitrous bacteria, the process of converting ammonia to nitrite would slow drastically.
Synonyms
1
6.8
A tiny living thing that turns ammonia into nitrite in soil or water
A bacterium that turns ammonia in soil into nitrites
Soil bacteria that change ammonia into nitrites during the nitrogen cycle
Small soil bacteria that change ammonia into nitrites
A family of long, thin bacteria that turn ammonia or nitrite into nitrate and help the nitrogen cycle in soil
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is a straightforward adjective + noun composition: 'nitrous' (relating to nitrogen/nitrite compounds) modifies 'bacteria', so the meaning 'bacteria associated with nitrous/nitrite processes' is directly derivable from the parts. Although the term is somewhat technical, its semantic relation is transparent and predictable for a learner who knows both constituent words.
Etymology
Nitrous bacteria are named for a simple image: bacteria that work with 'nitrogen' in the soil. They change 'ammonia' into 'nitrite', so the name helps you remember they handle nitrogen compounds in the ground.