Ecology
Denitrification
The microbial conversion of nitrate back to nitrogen gas, returning nitrogen to the atmosphere. Completes the nitrogen cycle.
Biological Context
Denitrifying bacteria use nitrate instead of oxygen when oxygen is scarce. The process removes bioavailable nitrogen from ecosystems, occurring in waterlogged soils, sediments, and anoxic zones. Denitrification is important for wastewater treatment but can represent nitrogen loss from agricultural systems.
Business Application
Business denitrification: processes that remove resources from productive circulation—hoarding, inefficient allocation, or capital that sits idle rather than cycling through the economy.