Answer:
Biogeochemical Cycle
(i) The movement of nutrient elements
through the various components of an ecosystem is called nutrient cycling or
biogeochemical cycles (Bio-living ;geo-including air, water and rocks).
(ii) Nutrient cycles are of two
types
(a) Gaseous
(b) Sedimentary
(iii) Atmosphere is the
reservoir for gaseous type of nutrient cycle (e.g., nitrogen and carbon cycle).
(iv) Earth's crust is the
reservoir of sedimentary cycle (e.g., sulphur and phosphorus cycle).
(v)The function of the reservoir
is to meet with the deficit, which occurs due to imbalance in the rate of
influx and efflux,
(vi) Environmental factors,
e.g., soil, moisture, pH, temperature, etc., regulate the rate of release of
nutrients into the atmosphere.
PhosphorusCycle
Phosphorus cycle is an example of sedimentary nutrient cycle since, it moves
from land andsedimented at the bottom of the seas, then back to land again.
The natural reservoir of
phosphorus is earth's crust. Rock contains phosphorus in the form of
phosphates. By weathering and soil erosion, phosphates enter streams, rivers
and then to oceans.
With great movements of the
crustal plates, sea floor is uplifted and phosphates become exposed on the
drained land surfaces. From here, weathering over long periods of time releases
phosphates.
From rocks, minute amount of
these phosphates dissolve in soil and are absorbed by the roots of the plants.
Herbivores and other animals
obtain this element from plants when they consume plants as their food.
The waste products and the dead
organisms are decomposed by phosphate- solubilising bacteria thus releasing
phosphorus.
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