How is the phosphorus cycle different from other cycles?
Phosphorus doesn’t enter the atmosphere.
RAPID FIRE: Name one physical and one chemical property of soils
PHYSICAL: permeability, porosity, texture
CHEMICAL: FERTILITY, pH, CEC,
What types of organisms can fix nitrogen? From what form to what form? How else can nitrogen be fixed?
nitrogen fixing bacteria, N2 to NO3; by lightening
What is the %clay, %silt and %sand at point J in the figure?
60 -10 -30
How does sulfur enter the atmosphere NATURALLY? In what forms? (give 2 at least)
Volcanoes (H2S), Fires/sea spray (SO4), marine algae (DMS)
What is the name of the process in which ammonium is converted to nitrate, a form of nitrogen that plants can use?
“nitrification"
RAPID FIRE: Name 3 of the main factors affecting soil formation
Time, climate, Topography, parent rock, living organisms
Why do we need phosphorus? In what form is it uptaken by consumers? How is it expelled?
DNA! PO4 from plants, PO4 in urine!
What is the name of the process in which bacteria convert nitrate back into nitrogen gas which is then released back into the atomosphere?“
denitrification"
What leads to eutrophication?
Too much N and P in waters
How do humans disrupt the P and S cycles? (one each)
P- add too much fertilizer, runoff S- burning fossil fuels, smelting ores, refining petroleum
BONUS: What happens to the environment because of each?
Which biogeochemical cycle does not have a slow cycle component?
Nitrogen