DECAY BACTERIA 



407 



277. Decomposition of nitrogenous organic matter. 

 The decomposition of nitrogenous organic matter is 

 accomplished by a series of changes from one compound 

 to another, as we have seen was the case with the non- 

 nitrogenous materials. The final products are carbon 

 dioxid, water, and usually some hydrocarbon gases 

 resulting from the carbon and hydrogen of the organic 



Fig. 111. The large-shovel riding cultivator. 



matter, and also some hydrogen sulfide or other gas 

 containing sulfur or a final oxidation of the sulfur of 

 the proteids into sulfates, while the nitrogen is ulti- 

 mately converted into nitrates, or into free nitrogen, 

 although a portion of the original nitrogen some- 

 times escapes into the air in the intermediate stage, 

 ammonia. 



The processes will be discussed under the following 

 heads, which represent certain more or less definite 

 stages in the decomposition: (1) Decay and putre- 



