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Phosphorus, often leached from rocks and minerals, is an important component of soils. Phosphorus does not have an atmospheric form, so it is most often transported by water. Inorganic phosphorus is taken in by plants, incorporated into organic compounds, and moves up the food chain. Phosphorus is returned to the soil and rock cycle through decomposition of waste.

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What cycle is guano an important part of?

Guano is an important part of the phosphorus cycle. It contributes to the cycling of phosphorus from the environment to living organisms and back again.


What role does the phosphorus sink play in the global phosphorus cycle?

The phosphorus sink acts as a storage system for phosphorus in the environment, helping to regulate the amount of phosphorus available for living organisms. It helps to maintain a balance in the global phosphorus cycle by storing excess phosphorus and releasing it back into the environment when needed.


What man made refined chemicals have the greatest impact on the phosphorus cycle?

Phosphorus in fertilizers, such as phosphates and phosphoric acid used in agriculture, has the greatest impact on the phosphorus cycle. These chemicals are applied to soil and can lead to excess phosphorus runoff, causing eutrophication in water bodies and disrupting the natural balance of the phosphorus cycle.


How does soil based view of the phosphorus cycle comparecontrast with the global view of the phosphorus cycle?

The soil-based view of the phosphorus cycle focuses on the local movement of phosphorus within ecosystems, emphasizing soil interactions and plant uptake. In contrast, the global view considers the larger scale movement of phosphorus through various pools like oceans and sediments, highlighting the long-distance transport and impact on the overall biogeochemical cycle. Both perspectives are important for understanding the complete phosphorus cycle in different contexts.


Why is the phosphorus cycle slower than the nitrogen cycle?

The phosphorus cycle is slower than the nitrogen cycle because phosphorus is released into the environment primarily through the weathering of rocks, which is a slow process. In contrast, nitrogen is converted into usable forms by bacteria through nitrogen fixation at a faster rate, leading to a quicker turnover in the nitrogen cycle.

Related Questions

Why phosphorus is not an atmospheric cycle?

Phosphorus is not an atmospheric cycle because it is not found in significant quantities in the atmosphere like other elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen. Instead, phosphorus cycles through the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere primarily through the weathering of rocks, runoff into oceans, and biological processes. This makes phosphorus a terrestrial cycle rather than an atmospheric cycle.


Does the nitrogen cycle have no atmospheric component?

No, the nitrogen cycle has an atmospheric component. Nitrogen gas (N2) in the atmosphere is converted into compounds that can be used by living organisms through processes like nitrogen fixation and denitrification. This atmospheric nitrogen is essential for the functioning of the nitrogen cycle on Earth.


Which biogeochemical cycle does not include a major path in which the substances cycles through the atmosphere?

The phosphorus cycle does not have a major atmospheric component like other cycles such as the carbon, nitrogen, and water cycles. In the phosphorus cycle, phosphorus is primarily found in rocks and sediments, and it is released through weathering processes into soil and water where it is taken up by organisms.


Why is phosphorus referred to as a local cycle?

Phosphorus is referred to as a local cycle because it tends to cycle within a specific ecosystem and does not have a significant atmospheric component like carbon or nitrogen. This means that phosphorus primarily moves within soil, water, and living organisms in a localized manner, rather than being transported long distances.


Is phosphorus cycle known by any other names?

Yes, the phosphorus cycle is also referred to as the phosphorus biogeochemical cycle.


What is different about the phosphorus cycle as compared to the water carbon and nitrogen cycle?

The atmosphere is not involved in the phosphorus cycle.


What is the different about the phosphorus cycle as compared to the water carbon and nitrogen cycle?

The atmosphere is not involved in the phosphorus cycle.


What is different about the phosphorus cycle as compared to the water-carbon nitrogen cycle?

The atmosphere is not involved in the phosphorus cycle.


The cycle that is the slowest because there is no gas phase is the what cycle?

The slowest cycle without a gas phase is the phosphorus cycle. This cycle involves the movement of phosphorus through the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere, with no gaseous phase involved.


Which describes a way in which phosphorus may enter into the phosphorus cycle?

Phosphorus may enter the phosphorus cycle through weathering of rocks and minerals, which releases phosphorus into the soil and water. Additionally, human activities like agriculture and fertilizer use can contribute to phosphorus entering the cycle through runoff and leaching.


What is the different about the phosphorus cycle as compared to the water carbon and nitrogen cycles?

The atmosphere is not involved in the phosphorus cycle.


What is different about the phosphorus cycle compared to the water carbon and nitrogen cycles?

The atmosphere is not involved in the phosphorus cycle.