The Phosphorus Cycle

1. The Phosphorus Cycle

2. The Phosphorus Cycle • The phosphorus cycle is the biogeochemical cycle that describes the movement of phosphorus through the lithosphere, hydrosphere. • Unlike many other biogeochemical cycles, the atmosphere does not play a significant role in the movements of phosphorus.

3. Importance of the Phosphorus cycle • Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for plants and animals • It is a part of DNA-molecules and RNA-molecules, molecules that store energy (ATP and ADP) • Phosphorus is also a building block of certain parts of the human and animal body, such as the bones and teeth.

4. By: Jermaine Loutin (Jose Marti Six Form Envi.)

5. By: Jermaine Loutin (Jose Marti Six Form Envi.)

6. A GLOBAL VIEW OF THE PHOSPHORUS CYCLE • The phosphorus cycle occurs when phosphorus moves from land to sediments in the seas and then back to land again. The main storage for phosphorus is in the earths crust. On land phosphorus is usually found in the form of phosphates

8. Difference in the Phosphorus cycle • The phosphorus cycle differs from the nitrogen and carbon cycles because phosphorus is unable to achieve the gaseous state in the atmosphere. Phosphorus is mainly found in water, soil and sediments. In the atmosphere, phosphorus is found as fine dust particles.

9. In comparison to nitrogen and carbon, the rate at which phosphate salts are released is extremely slow. Phosphorus can remain in rocks or sediments for millions of years