Phosphorus Cycle Basics
This cycle describes the movement of phosphorus atoms and molecules between reservoirs.
Phosphorus cycle
This natural process slowly breaks down rocks to release phosphate into soil and water.
Weathering
This activity speeds up rock weathering and phosphorus release by breaking rocks into smaller pieces.
Mining
Plants absorb phosphorus primarily through these structures.
Roots
This process involves small particles of rock settling and accumulating to form soil or sediment.
Sedimentation
Phosphorus is mainly stored in this type of Earth material.
rocks and sediments
Phosphate is carried from rocks to soil and water by these natural forces.
Wind and rain
These agricultural products contain phosphate and can lead to runoff pollution.
Animals obtain phosphorus by consuming these.
Plants and/or other animals
Over long periods, sedimented phosphorus can become this type of rock.
Sedimentary rocks
Unlike nitrogen or carbon, phosphorus does not have this phase in its cycle.
gaseous phase
Because phosphorus is released slowly, it often limits this biological process in ecosystems.
Plant growth
This household product can contribute phosphorus to waterways if not fully removed during treatment.
Detergents/Cleaners
The breakdown of dead organisms and waste to release phosphorus back into the environment is done by these organisms.
Decomposers
This geological event can expose sedimentary phosphorus rocks, restarting the cycle.
Geological uplift
The phosphorus cycle is much slower than these two other biogeochemical cycles.
carbon and nitrogen cycles
This term describes nutrients like phosphorus that limit ecosystem productivity due to their scarcity.
Limiting nutrient
Wastewater treatment plants often do not completely remove this nutrient before releasing water into rivers.
Phosphate
Decomposers release nutrients from dead matter through this process.
Decomposition
Phosphorus buried in sedimentary rock remains unavailable for this reason.
locked away until it weathers
This molecule represents the form phosphorus takes in rocks and is important biologically.
Phosphate
The phosphate released from weathered rocks is sometimes dissolved in this.
Excess phosphorus runoff into water bodies often contributes to this environmental problem.
Eutrophication
This type of nutrient cycling includes the absorption and buildup of phosphorus by organisms.
Assimilation
Sedimentation in aquatic environments contributes phosphorus to these long-term storage reservoirs.
sedimentary rocks