Final answer:
Ammonification is the process whereby heterotrophic bacteria consume organic nitrogen and release ammonia, leading to the production of ammonium ions (NH4+). This is distinct from nitrogen fixation, which involves the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process by which all heterotrophic bacteria eat organic nitrogen and release ammonia as a byproduct is called ammonification. This process is a critical step in the larger nitrogen cycle, involving the decomposition of nitrogen-containing organic compounds. Ammonification results in the release of the ammonium ion (NH4+), which can further be processed by nitrifying bacteria in the soil to form nitrites (NO2) and nitrates (NO3), through a process called nitrification.
These bacteria are essential for recycling nitrogen within ecosystems, turning organic forms of nitrogen back into inorganic forms that plants can use. It is important to note that nitrogen fixation is a different process where bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonia (NH3); it is not related to the transformation of organic nitrogen into ammonia.