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P cycle

Phosphorus

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25 views2 pages

P cycle

Phosphorus

Uploaded by

faizandar60
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The phosphorus cycle is a biogeochemical cycle that describes the movement of phosphorus

through the lithosphere (earth's crust), hydrosphere (water bodies), and biosphere (living
organisms). Unlike other nutrient cycles (like nitrogen or carbon), the phosphorus cycle does
not involve a significant atmospheric component, as phosphorus does not exist in a gaseous
state under normal conditions.

Key Steps of the Phosphorus Cycle


1. Weathering of Rocks:
o Phosphorus is primarily stored in rocks and soil as phosphate ions (PO₄³⁻).
o Over time, weathering and erosion release phosphate ions into the soil and
water.
2. Absorption by Plants:
o Plants absorb phosphate ions from the soil through their roots.
o Phosphates are essential for plant growth and are used to form molecules like
DNA, RNA, and ATP (energy currency of cells).
3. Movement through the Food Web:
o Animals obtain phosphorus by consuming plants or other animals.
o Phosphorus becomes part of their biological molecules.
4. Return to Soil and Water:
o When plants and animals die, decomposers break down their organic matter,
returning phosphorus to the soil or sediment as inorganic phosphate.
o Animal excretion also contributes phosphorus back to the environment.
5. Sedimentation and Geological Processes:
o Excess phosphorus in water bodies can settle into sediments at the bottom.
o Over geological time scales, these sediments can form new phosphate rocks.
6. Human Impact:
o Activities such as mining for phosphate fertilizers and detergents, and the
runoff of these materials into water bodies, can disrupt the natural phosphorus
cycle.
o Excessive phosphorus in aquatic systems often leads to eutrophication,
causing algal blooms and harming aquatic life.
Importance of the Phosphorus Cycle
• Phosphorus is a critical nutrient for all living organisms, as it forms part of vital
molecules like nucleic acids and energy carriers.
• It helps maintain ecological balance and supports the productivity of ecosystems.

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