The conversion of nutrients from an unavailable organic form to a more available inorganic form.

Conversion of an element from an organic form to an inorganic form. Mineralisation of pesticides most commonly refers to the microbial degradation to carbon dioxide as a terminal metabolite. See also immobilisation.

Conversion of soil organic matter through microbiological and chemical processes into inorganic crop nutrients.

Process carried out by soil micro-organisms whereby nutrients are released in an inorganic form from the decomposition of organic matter.

The microbial conversion of an element from an organic to an inorganic state.

The conversion of bound organic nitrogen into the mineral (ionic or inorganic) form required for plant uptake. The inorganic nitrogen is then converted in a process known as nitrification from ammonium salts to nitrites, and from nitrites to nitrates by nitrifying bacteria which obtain their energy from this oxidation process. Once free nitrate is formed, the rapid recycling process offers many options, the nitrate may be assimilated by plants, denitrified or leached.

Conversion of a potential plant nutrient from its organic form to inorganic plant-available form as a result of soil microbial activity.

Conversion of a biodegradable plastic to CO2, H2O, inorganic compounds and biomass. For instance the carbon atoms in a biodegradable plastic are transformed to CO2, which can then reenter the global carbon cycle.