In the Nitrogen Cycle, the Bacteria That Replenish the Atmosphere

Question

In the nitrogen cycle, the bacteria that replenish the atmosphere with N₂ are
A) Rhizobium bacteria.
B) nitrifying bacteria.
C) denitrifying bacteria.
D) methanogenic protozoans.
E) nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Accepted Answer

Denitrifying bacteria convert nitrates (NO3-) in the soil back into nitrogen gas (N2), thus replenishing the atmosphere with nitrogen.