Certified Crop Advisor Practice Exam

What process is primarily involved in the release of nutrients from organic matter?

1. Nitrification

2. Mineralization

3. Ammonification

4. Dissolution

The correct answer is: Mineralization

The process involved in the release of nutrients from organic matter is mineralization. This biological and chemical process transforms organic matter, such as decomposed plant and animal residues, into inorganic nutrients, which are then available for uptake by plants. Mineralization typically occurs through the action of microorganisms that break down complex organic molecules, releasing essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur in forms that plants can absorb. Nitrification, while related, specifically refers to the conversion of ammonium into nitrate by bacteria, which is a part of the nitrogen cycle but not the overall process of mineralization. Ammonification describes the initial step where organic nitrogen compounds are converted into ammonium, preceding mineralization, rather than being synonymous with it. Dissolution involves the solubilization of minerals, but it does not directly pertain to the breakdown of organic matter and the release of nutrients. Thus, mineralization is the most accurate term for the process that encompasses the complete transformation of organic compounds into bioavailable inorganic forms.