The process that occurs when nitrates in the soil are converted into a gas to be released into the atmosphere is called denitrification.
1. Denitrification is a microbial process that converts nitrates (NO3-) into nitrogen gas (N2) or nitrous oxide (N2O).
2. During denitrification, specialized bacteria use nitrates as an alternative electron acceptor instead of oxygen in anaerobic conditions, leading to the release of nitrogen gas into the atmosphere.
3. This process plays a crucial role in the nitrogen cycle by returning nitrogen gas to the atmosphere, completing the cycle of nitrogen transformation between different forms in the environment.
Therefore, in the given scenario, denitrification is the specific process responsible for converting nitrates in the soil into a gas released into the atmosphere.
