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Phosphorus Cycle

1) Phosphorus is found in numerous compound forms in water, soil, and sediments and is essential for plant growth but often limited in soils. 2) The phosphorus cycle describes the movement of phosphorus through the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere as it is taken up by plants from soil, consumed by animals, returned to soil through decay, and can end up in waterways and oceans. 3) Human activities like fertilizer use and runoff have increased the amounts of phosphorus pollution in water, contributing to eutrophication.

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Dezzalyn D. Gabriel
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84 views18 pages

Phosphorus Cycle

1) Phosphorus is found in numerous compound forms in water, soil, and sediments and is essential for plant growth but often limited in soils. 2) The phosphorus cycle describes the movement of phosphorus through the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere as it is taken up by plants from soil, consumed by animals, returned to soil through decay, and can end up in waterways and oceans. 3) Human activities like fertilizer use and runoff have increased the amounts of phosphorus pollution in water, contributing to eutrophication.

Uploaded by

Dezzalyn D. Gabriel
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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PHOSPHORUS

CYCLE
PHOSPHORUS
- is a chemical element found on Earth in
numerous compound forms, such as the
phosphate ion (PO43-), located in water,
soil and sediments.
PHOSPHORUS
-The quantities of phosphorus in soil are
generally small, and this often limits plant
growth.
PHOSPHORUS CYCLE
-is the biogeochemical cycle that describes
the movement of phosphorus through the
lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere.
Steps of the Phosphorus
Cycle
1). Over time, rain, weathering, and
erosion cause rocks to release
phosphate ions and other
minerals.
2). Plants and other organisms take
up this inorganic phosphate from
the soil it was released into,
which is then consumed by other
animals.
3.) Once consumed, the
phosphate is incorporated into
DNA and other organic
molecules.
4.) Once this animal dies,
it decays and then again
the now organic phosphate
is returned back into
the soil.
5.) Within the soil, the
organic forms of phosphate are
made available to plants.
MINERALIZATION
-the decomposition, oxidation of the
chemical compounds in organic matter
by which the nutrients in those
compounds are released in soluble
inorganic forms that may be available to
plants
6.) Then this phosphorous in
soil can end up in waterways and
then eventually ocean waters.
There it is incorporated into
the sediments again.
Ecosystem
• The phosphorus cycle occurs in all kinds
of ecosystems all over the world.
• Phosphorus moves through three main
spheres which include; lithosphere, biosphere,
nd hydrosphere.
• Unlike other cycles the atmosphere has no
mpact on the phosphorus cycle because
phosphorus and compounds related to it are
usually solids.
Human impact
• The cycle is mainly affected by the production
and use of fertilizers made from phosphorus and
animal manure that contains phosphorus.
Human impact
• The soil cannot absorb all the fertilizer, so it
ventually gets washed away with other surface runoff.
This results in increased amounts of phosphorus as
pollutants in bodies of water that results in
anthropogenic eutrophication.

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