Types of Biogeochemical Cycles

Biogeochemical cycles are basically of two types:

a) Gaseous cycles like carbon (as carbon dioxide), oxygen, nitrogen, etc.

b) Sedimentary cycles like sulphur, phosphorus, etc.

In gaseous cycles, the elements have a main reservoir in the gaseous phase, and the reservoir pool is the atmosphere or water. The biogenetic materials involved in circulation pass through a gaseous phase before completing the cycle.

In sedimentary cycles, the elements main reservoir pool is lithosphere and the biogenetic materials involved in circulation are non-gaseous. The sedimentary cycles are usually very slow as the elements may get locked up in rocks and go out of circulation for long periods.

Major Biogeochemical Cycles

Some of the major biogeochemical cycles in nature are carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, oxygen cycle, water cycle, phosphorus cycle and sulphur cycle.