What process converts ammonia into nitrates?

The process that converts ammonia into nitrates is called nitrification. This two-step microbial process involves the oxidation of ammonia (NH3) to nitrite (NO2-) by ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, followed by the oxidation of nitrite to nitrate (NO3-) by nitrite-oxidizing bacteria. Nitrification plays a crucial role in the nitrogen cycle, facilitating the availability of nitrogen for plant uptake in ecosystems.