Nearly one-fourth of all marine animals, including about 7,000 species of fish, depend upon coral reefs for some part of their life cycle. Learn More at AskFWC Get FWC News Feeds
Although nitrites are the nitrogen compound chiefly used in meat curing, nitrates are used in certain specialty curing processes where a long release of nitrite from parent nitrate stores is needed. The use of nitrates in food preservation is controversial.
Added organic matter changes the level of nitrates in soil. Nitrate (NO3) is a naturally occurring form of nitrogen in soil. This form of nitrogen is created when nitrification, the conversion of ammonium into nitrate, occurs. Nitrate is used as food by plants for growth and production. The level of nitrate in soil varies widely, depending upon the type of soil, climate conditions, rainfall and fertilizing practices.