The Phosphorus Cycle

THE PHOSPHORUS CYCLE

by Anton Antonio

May 19, 2015

The Phosphorus Cycle is a biogeochemical cycle (meaning: a substance turnover or cycling of substances pathway by which a chemical substance moves through both biotic and abiotic compartments on Earth) that describes the movement of phosphorus through the lithosphere (meaning: the rigid outer part of the Earth consisting of the crust and upper mantle), hydrosphere (meaning: all the waters on the Earth’s surface such as lakes and seas and sometimes including water over the Earth’s surface such as clouds) and biosphere (meaning: the regions of the surface, atmosphere and hydrosphere of the Earth occupied by living organisms).  Unlike many other biogeochemical cycles, the atmosphere does not play a significant role in the movement and cycling of phosphorus since phosphorus and phosphorus-based compounds are usually solids at the typical ranges of temperature and pressure found on Earth.  The production of Phosphine gas occurs only in specialized and unique conditions.

Phosphorus is scarce and exists only in small amounts in the soil because phosphorus is relatively insoluble and present in certain kinds of rocks.  For phosphorus to have a significant aid in plant growth, P (chemical symbol for phosphorus) must be applied to the soil with fungi (meaning:  any of a diverse group of eukaryotic single-celled or multinucleate organisms that live by decomposing and absorbing the organic material in which they grow such as mushrooms, molds, mildews, smuts, rust and yeasts) and mycorrhizae (meaning: a fungus that grows in association with the roots of a plant in a symbiotic or mildly pathogenic relationship) to the soil.  Fungi facilitate the absorption of phosphorus from the soil.

Phosphorus cycle is also part of the Sedimentary Cycle (meaning: a cycle which comprises the weathering of an existing rock followed by the erosion of minerals and their subsequent transport and deposition then final burial).  The Phosphorus Cycle is in contrast to Gaseous Cycles (meaning: a biogeochemical cycle classified as gaseous since the reservoir is either in the air or in water bodies).

There really is a confusing number of “cycles” on Earth.  These are all, in varying degrees, supportive of life including one which most of us consider as insignificant… the Phosphorus Cycle.

Just my little thoughts…

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