SSC Exam 3 help

Nitrification

Ammonium (NH4+) to Nitrate (NO3-) by Nitrosomonas, Nitrite (NO2-) to nitrate by nitrobacter

Mineralization

Biological conversion of unavailable organic N to plant available inorganic N

Ammonification

Conversion of organic N to ammonium by microorganisms (makes soil more basic)

Immobilization

Biological conversion of plant available N into unavailable organic N.

Volatilizatoin

The loss of nitrogen to the atmosphere as ammonia gas

Denitrification

Nitrate (NO2-) into N2

Anions

Chloride (Cl- )

Nitrate (NO3 - )

Sulfate (SO4 2- )

Phosphate (PO4 3- )

Cations

Hydrogen (H+ )

Nitrogen (NH4 + )

Potassium (K+ )

Magnesium (Mg2+)

Calcium (Ca2+)

Isomorphic Substitution

1:1 Clay (kaolinite)

Mg Substitution for Al in the octahedral lattice

2:1 Clay (montmorillnite)

Mg substitution for Al in the octahedral lattice

Al substitution for Si in the tetrahedral lattice

Flocculation

Particles stick together

Dispersion

Each particle behaves as an individual