Phosphorus cycle is an imperfect cycle because phosphorus does not go back to the source from where it is originated, that is, plants.
A perfect cycle (e.g. the nitrogen cycle) has a readily accessible abiotic, usually gaseous, reservoir and many negative-feedback controls. By contrast, the phosphorus cycle, which has a sedimentary reservoir accessed only by slow-moving physical processes, has few biological feedback mechanisms. Human activities can disrupt these cycles, leading to pollution. Theoretically, perfect cycles are more resilient than imperfect cycles.
The phosphorus cycle is the biogeochemical cycle that describes the movement of phosphorus through the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere.
The phosphorus cycle process is as follows,
- The phosphorus enters the soil and water through the weathering of rocks.
- Plants take in these phosphorus ions from the soil.
- The phosphates are then transferred from plants to herbivores animals.
- These herbivores animals are eaten by carnivores.
- The phosphates that are absorbed by the animals are returned to the soil through excretion and from decomposition of plants and dead material by microbes.
- The dead plant materials and other waste products are decayed through the action of bacteria.
- The phosphate is released out to the environment by this process.
- The phosphate in the soil is leached out or eroded into water.
- The water is again utilized by algae and plants as nutrients.
- So, the correct answer is 'Imperfect cycle'
FAQs
The phosphate is released out to the environment by this process. The phosphate in the soil is leached out or eroded into water. The water is again utilized by algae and plants as nutrients. So, the correct answer is 'Imperfect cycle'
What is the phosphorus cycle short answer? ›
The Phosphorus Cycle is the biogeochemical cycle that describes the transformation and translocation of phosphorus in soil, water, and living and dead organic material.
Is the phosphorus cycle a gaseous cycle? ›
The sedimentary cycles like the phosphorus cycle, however have their nutrient reserves in the soil, rocks and minerals;elements are released from the rock and deposited in the sea. The phosphorus cycle does not have a gaseous phase.
How does the phosphorus cycle differ from the other biogeochemical cycle? ›
The phosphorus cycle differs from the cycles of other biologically important elements, such as carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur, in that it lacks a significant gaseous component; nearly all phosphorus in the environment resides either in solid or in aqueous forms.
What is the reservoir of the phosphorus cycle? ›
The largest reservoirs of phosphorus are buried in rock and deep ocean sediments. When rocks and sediments weather, or wear down, phosphate ions ( PO A 4 A 3 − ) are released. These ions leach into surface water and soils where they are more accessible to plants and other organisms.
Is the phosphorus cycle a sedimentary cycle? ›
Sedimentary cycles include those of iron, calcium, phosphorus, sulfur, and other more-earthbound elements. Sedimentary cycles vary from one element to another, but each cycle consists fundamentally of a solution (or water-related) phase and a rock (or sediment) phase (Britannica 2020).
What is the phosphate cycle simple? ›
Much of the phosphorus on Earth is tied up in rock and sedimentary deposits, from which it is released by weathering, leaching, and mining. Some of it passes through freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems via plants, grazers, predators, and parasites, to be returned to those ecosystems by death and decay.
What is the phosphorus cycle quizlet? ›
The movement of phosphorus from the environment to organisms and then back into the environment.
What is the gaseous cycle and sedimentary cycle? ›
Gaseous cycles include those of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon, and water; sedimentary cycles include those of iron, calcium, phosphorus, and other more earthbound elements. In a sedimentary cycle elements move from land to water to sediment. Main reservoirs are the soil and sedimentary rocks.
Is the phosphorus cycle a sedimentary cycle with essentially no gaseous cycle? ›
Unlike many other biogeochemical cycles, the atmosphere does not play a significant role in the movement of phosphorus, because phosphorus and phosphorus-based materials do not enter the gaseous phase readily, as the main source of gaseous phosphorus, phosphine, is only produced in isolated and specific conditions.
The phosphorus does not enter living organisms, whereas carbon does. The phosphorus cycle does not include a gaseous phase, whereas the carbon cycle does. The phosphorus cycle includes a solid phase, whereas the carbon cycle does not.
Why is the phosphorus cycle so important? ›
The phosphorus cycle matters because phosphorus is an essential nutrient for sustaining life on Earth, where it plays a central role in the transfer of energy within organisms, the structure of the genetic material, and in the composition of cell membranes, bones and teeth.
What is the fastest biogeochemical cycle? ›
Answer and Explanation: The biological carbon cycle is the fastest exchange of carbon among living organisms. Plants move carbon from the atmosphere by converting energy from the sun into molecules such as glucose. Animals eat the plants and digest the glucose to obtain power for their bodies.
Does the phosphorus cycle have a gas stage? ›
Correct answer: The phosphorus cycle does not include a gaseous phase, resulting in no significant quantities of atmospheric phosphorus.
What is the reservoir for phosphate? ›
Phosphorus reservoirs are found basically in soil and sedimentary rocks, because unlike the other nutrients that cycle through the biosphere, phosphorus cannot be found in air in the gaseous state.
How does phosphorus make it back to its primary reservoir? ›
Here's how it returns to its main reservoir and how it limits plant growth: Return to the Reservoir: Rock and Sediment: Most phosphorus on Earth is found in rocks and sediments. Over time, weathering and erosion slowly break down these rocks, releasing phosphorus into the soil and water .
Which best summarizes the phosphorus cycle? ›
The phophorus cycle is best described by the movement of phosphorus between land, ocean and living organisms. Hope this answers the question. With this cycle, the atmosphere is not involved.
What is happening in the phosphorus cycle? ›
The global phosphorus cycle has four major components: (i) tectonic uplift and exposure of phosphorus-bearing rocks to the forces of weathering; (ii) physical erosion and chemical weathering of rocks producing soils and providing dissolved and particulate phosphorus to rivers; (iii) riverine transport of phosphorus to ...
What does phosphorus do for the body? ›
Function. The main function of phosphorus is in the formation of bones and teeth. It plays an important role in how the body uses carbohydrates and fats. It is also needed for the body to make protein for the growth, maintenance, and repair of cells and tissues.