Ecological Aspects of Denitrification, with Emphasis on Agriculture - COST action 856

Most of the processes involved in nitrogen turnover in the environment are exclusively the result of microbial activities. Loss of nitrogen compounds such as nitrate or ammonia via denitrification or its interaction with other nitrogen turnover processes limits the growth of crops. Gaseous side products of these processes emitted from soils contribute to the destruction of the ozone layer and to global warming. To minimize the negative effects of nitrogen turnover in the environment in the long run and to make use of denitrification to enhance environmental quality it is crucial to understand denitrification and other nitrogen transforming environmental processes.

Further reading: http://www.cost856.de/