biogeochemical cycles of phosphorus differences nitrogen

Biogeochemical Cycles - Earth is the source of matter for all living organisms, as they require several (about 40) elements for their growth and life processes. Some elements and their compounds have an important role in the living protoplasm and are required in large amounts. T..

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

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 reservoi..

1) Some amount of phosphorus is returned to earth in the form of birds excreta - Guano deposits (excreta of marine birds) and dead fish (around 60,000 tonnes which is less than 0.5% of phosphorus discharged from rivers). 2) Death and decay of organisms and decompositi..

Carbon is found as graphite and diamond in nature. It also occurs as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Because of the position of its electrons, an atom of carbon can form covalent bonds with hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus and other carbon atoms. Because of this versatil..

The biotic and abiotic components form an interacting system called 'ecosystem'. Producers, consumers and decomposers are the various trophic levels, which are linked by their food relationship forming a 'food chain'. Several food chains are interrelated and interconnected to form a network called ..

In an ecosystem there are two processes proceeding simultaneously: 1 ) Energy flow and 2 ) Biogeochemical cycle The energy flow is in a single direction and is non-cyclic where as Biogeochemical flow is cyclic (Any mineral cycle..

i) Considerable amount of phosphorus from the soil rock is washed into the sea by rains and floods (an estimated amount of 2 million tonnes of phosphotic rock is lost to sea) where sea weeds take up phosphorus and is then passed onto fishes and sea birds. ii) Terrestri..

1) Greatest reservoirs of phosphate are the insoluble ferric and calcium phosphates in rocks (rock phosphate) in combination with calcium, iron and aluminium. Slow process of weathering releases phosphates to the soil. 2) Phosphates are also added to the soil by man in the form of artific..

Just as the human body needs nutrients for its healthy growth, plants also need certain nutrients for their growth. The nutrients required by plants for their healthy growth are 16 in number. They are carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium,..