Nitrification

Ni`tri`fi`ca´tion

n.	1.	(Chem.) The act, process, or result of combining with nitrogen or some of its compounds.
	2.	A process of oxidation, in which nitrogenous vegetable and animal matter in the presence of air, moisture, and some basic substances, as lime or alkali carbonate, is converted into nitrates.

Noun	1.	nitrification - the chemical process in which a nitro group is added to an organic compound (or substituted for another group in an organic compound)
	2.	nitrification - the oxidation of ammonium compounds in dead organic material into nitrates and nitrites by soil bacteria (making nitrogen available to plants)