Which of the following process helps in nutrient conservation

Options

A. Mineralisation
B. Immobilisation
C. Leaching
D. Nitrification

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Nutrient Conservation:**
- Nutrient conservation refers to the processes that help retain nutrients in the ecosystem, preventing their loss and ensuring their availability for plants and other organisms.

2. **Identifying the Processes:**
- The question provides four processes: mineralization, immobilization, leaching, and nitrification. We need to determine which of these contributes to nutrient conservation.

3. **Defining Each Process:**
- **Mineralization:** This is the process where organic matter is broken down into inorganic nutrients, making them available for plant uptake. This process does not conserve nutrients; instead, it releases them.
- **Immobilization:** This process involves the conversion of inorganic nutrients into organic forms by microorganisms or plants. This helps in retaining nutrients in the ecosystem, thus conserving them.
- **Leaching:** This refers to the loss of nutrients from the soil due to water movement, which is detrimental to nutrient conservation.
- **Nitrification:** This is the conversion of ammonia into nitrates by bacteria. While it is part of the nitrogen cycle, it does not directly contribute to nutrient conservation.

4. **Conclusion:**
- Among the processes listed, immobilization is the one that helps in conserving nutrients by converting inorganic nutrients into organic forms, thereby preventing their loss from the ecosystem.

**Final Answer:** The process that helps in nutrient conservation is **immobilization**.

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