noun
nitrate bacteria; nitrate-forming bacteria
Technical term in microbiology; refers to bacteria that oxidize nitrites into nitrates, such as Nitrobacter.
硝酸菌は土壌中の窒素循環に重要な役割を果たしている。
Nitrate bacteria play an important role in the nitrogen cycle in soil.
Compound of 硝酸 (しょうさん, 'nitric acid') + 菌 (きん, 'bacterium').