Phosphorus cycle - wikipedia Phosphorus cycle Phosphorus Cycle on land The phosphorus cycle is the biogeochemical cycle that describes the movement of phosphorus through the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere. Unlike many other biogeochemical cycles, the atmosphere does not play a significant role in the movement of phosphorus, because 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 in only specialized, local conditions. On the land, phosphorus gradually becomes less available to plants over thousands of years, because it is slowly lost in runoff. Low concentration of phosphorus in soils reduces plant growth, and slows soil microbial growth - as shown in studies of soil microbial biomass. Soil microorganisms act as both sinks and sources of available phosphorus in the biogeochemical cycle. Locally, transformations of phosphorus are chemical, biological and microbiological : the major long - term transfers in the global cycle, however, are driven by tectonic movements in geologic time. Humans have caused major changes to the global phosphorus cycle through shipping of phosphorus minerals, and use of phosphorus fertilizer, and also the shipping of food from farms to cities, where it is lost as effluent. Contents 1 Phosphorus in the environment 1.1 Ecological function 1.2 Biological function 1.3 Process of the cycle 1.4 Phosphatic minerals 2 Human influences 3 See also 4 References 5 External links Phosphorus in the environment The aquatic phosphorus cycle Ecological function Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for plants and animals. Phosphorus is a limiting nutrient for aquatic organisms. Phosphorus forms parts of important life - sustaining molecules that are very common in the biosphere. Phosphorus does not enter the atmosphere, remaining mostly on land and in rock and soil minerals. Eighty percent of the mined phosphorus is used to make fertilizers. Phosphates from fertilizers, sewage and detergents can cause pollution in lakes and streams. Overenrichment of phosphate in both fresh and inshore marine waters can lead to massive algae blooms which, when they die and decay, leads to eutrophication of fresh waters only. An example of this is the Canadian Experimental Lakes Area. These freshwater algal blooms should not be confused with those in saltwater environments. Recent research suggests that the predominant pollutant responsible for algal blooms in salt water estuaries and coastal marine habitats is Nitrogen. Phosphorus occurs most abundantly in nature as part of the orthophosphate ion ( PO ), consisting of a P atom and 4 oxygen atoms. On land most phosphorus is found in rocks and minerals. Phosphorus rich deposits have generally formed in the ocean or from guano, and over time, geologic processes bring ocean sediments to land. Weathering of rocks and minerals release phosphorus in a soluble form where it is taken up by plants, and it is transformed into organic compounds. The plants may then be consumed by herbivores and the phosphorus is either incorporated into their tissues or excreted. After death, the animal or plant decays, and phosphorus is returned to the soil where a large part of the phosphorus is transformed into insoluble compounds. Runoff may carry a small part of the phosphorus back to the ocean. Generally with time ( thousands of years ) soils become deficient in phosphorus leading to ecosystem retrogression. Biological function The primary biological importance of phosphates is as a component of nucleotides, which serve as energy storage within cells ( ATP ) or when linked together, form the nucleic acids DNA and RNA. The double helix of our DNA is only possible because of the phosphate ester bridge that binds the helix. Besides making biomolecules, phosphorus is also found in bone and the enamel of mammalian teeth, whose strength is derived from calcium phosphate in the form of Hydroxylapatite. It is also found in the exoskeleton of insects, and phospholipids ( found in all biological membranes ). It also functions as a buffering agent in maintaining acid base homeostasis in the human body. Process of the cycle Phosphates move quickly through plants and animals ; however, the processes that move them through the soil or ocean are very slow, making the phosphorus cycle overall one of the slowest biogeochemical cycles. Initially, phosphate weathers from rocks and minerals, the most common mineral being apatite. Overall small losses occur in terrestrial environments by leaching and erosion, through the action of rain. In soil, phosphate is adsorbed on iron oxides, aluminium hydroxides, clay surfaces, and organic matter particles, and becomes incorporated ( immobilized or fixed ). Plants and fungi can also be active in making P soluble. Unlike other cycles, P is not normally found in the air as a gas ; it only occurs under highly reducing conditions as the gas phosphine PH. Phosphatic minerals The availability of phosphorus in an ecosystem is restricted by the rate of release of this element during weathering. The release of phosphorus from apatite dissolution is a key control on ecosystem productivity. The primary mineral with significant phosphorus content, apatite ( Ca ( PO ) OH ) undergoes carbonation. Little of this released phosphorus is taken up by biota ( organic form ), whereas a larger proportion reacts with other soil minerals. This leads to precipitation into unavailable forms in the later stage of weathering and soil development. Available phosphorus is found in a biogeochemical cycle in the upper soil profile, while phosphorus found at lower depths is primarily involved in geochemical reactions with secondary minerals. Plant growth depends on the rapid root uptake of phosphorus released from dead organic matter in the biochemical cycle. Phosphorus is limited in supply for plant growth. Phosphates move quickly through plants and animals ; however, the processes that move them through the soil or ocean are very slow, making the phosphorus cycle overall one of the slowest biogeochemical cycles. Low - molecular - weight ( LMW ) organic acids are found in soils. They originate from the activities of various microorganisms in soils or may be exuded from the roots of living plants. Several of those organic acids are capable of forming stable organo - metal complexes with various metal ions found in soil solutions. As a result, these processes may lead to the release of inorganic phosphorus associated with aluminium, iron, and calcium in soil minerals. The production and release of oxalic acid by mycorrhizal fungi explain their importance in maintaining and supplying phosphorus to plants. The availability of organic phosphorus to support microbial, plant and animal growth depends on the rate of their degradation to generate free phosphate. There are various enzymes such as phosphatases, nucleases and phytase involved for the degradation. Some of the abiotic pathways in the environment studied are hydrolytic reactions and photolytic reactions. Enzymatic hydrolysis of organic phosphorus is an essential step in the biogeochemical phosphorus cycle, including the phosphorus nutrition of plants and microorganisms and the transfer of organic phosphorus from soil to bodies of water. Many organisms rely on the soil derived phosphorus for their phosphorus nutrition. Human influences Nutrients are important to the growth and survival of living organisms, and hence, are essential for development and maintenance of healthy ecosystems. Humans have greatly influenced the phosphorus cycle by mining phosphorus, converting it to fertilizer, and by shipping fertilizer and products around the globe. Transporting phosphorus in food from farms to cities has made a major change in the global Phosphorus cycle. However, excessive amounts of nutrients, particularly phosphorus and nitrogen, are detrimental to aquatic ecosystems. Waters are enriched in phosphorus from farms ' run - off, and from effluent that is inadequately treated before it is discharged to waters. Natural eutrophication is a process by which lakes gradually age and become more productive and may take thousands of years to progress. Cultural or anthropogenic eutrophication, however, is water pollution caused by excessive plant nutrients ; this results in excessive growth in the algal population ; when this algae dies its putrefaction depletes the water of oxygen. Such eutrophication may also give rise to toxic algal bloom. Both these effects cause animal and plant death rates to increase as the plants take in poisonous water while the animals drink the poisoned water. Surface and subsurface runoff and erosion from high - phosphorus soils may be major contributing factors to this fresh water eutrophication. The processes controlling soil Phosphorus release to surface runoff and to subsurface flow are a complex interaction between the type of phosphorus input, soil type and management, and transport processes depending on hydrological conditions. Repeated application of liquid hog manure in excess to crop needs can have detrimental effects on soil phosphorus status. Also, application of biosolids may increase available phosphorus in soil. In poorly drained soils or in areas where snowmelt can cause periodic waterlogging, dereducing conditions can be attained in 7 -- 10 days. This causes a sharp increase in phosphorus concentration in solution and phosphorus can be leached. In addition, reduction of the soil causes a shift in phosphorus from resilient to more labile forms. This could eventually increase the potential for phosphorus loss. This is of particular concern for the environmentally sound management of such areas, where disposal of agricultural wastes has already become a problem. It is suggested that the water regime of soils that are to be used for organic wastes disposal is taken into account in the preparation of waste management regulations. Human interference in the phosphorus cycle occurs by overuse or careless use of phosphorus fertilizers. This results in increased amounts of phosphorus as pollutants in bodies of water resulting in eutrophication. Eutrophication devastates water ecosystems by inducing anoxic conditions. See also Peak phosphorus Planetary boundaries References ^ Jump up to : Turner B.L et al. ( 2003 ) Organic phosphorus in the environment. CABI publishing ^ Jump up to : Schlesinger W.H. Biogeochemistry : An analysis of global change. ( 1991 ) Jump up ^ `` Eutrophication - Soil Science Society of America ''. www.soils.org. Archived from the original on 2014 - 04 - 16. Jump up ^ Peltzer, D.A. et al. 2010. Understanding ecosystem retrogression. Ecological Monographs 80 ; 509 - 529. Jump up ^ `` Phosphorus Cycle - The Environmental Literacy Council ''. enviroliteracy.org. Archived from the original on 2006 - 11 - 08. Jump up ^ Voet D and Voet J.G. ( 2003 ) Biochemistry pg 607 - 608. ^ Jump up to : Oelkers E.H ( 2008 ) Phosphate mineral reactivity : from global cycles to sustainable development Mineralogical Magazine 72 : 337 - 340. Jump up ^ Filippelli G.M ( 2002 ) The Global Phosphorus Cycle. Reviews in Mineralogy and geochemistry 48 : 391 -- 425 Jump up ^ Harrold S.A. and Tabatabai M.A ( 2006 ) Release of Inorganic Phosphorus from Soils by Low - Molecular - Weight Organic Acids. Communications in soil science and plant analysis, volume, issue 9 & 10 Jump up ^ Branom J.R and Sarkar D ( 2004 ) Phosphorus bioavailability in sediments of a sludge - disposal lake. Environmental Geoscience 11 : 42 - 52 Jump up ^ Schelde K et al. ( 2006 ) Effects of Manure Application and Plowing on Transport of Colloids and Phosphorus to Tile Drains. 5 : 445 - 458. Jump up ^ Hosseinpur, Alireza ; Pashamokhtari, Hamed ( 2012 ). `` The effects of incubation on phosphorus desorption properties, phosphorus availability, and salinity of biosolids - amended soils ''. Environmental Earth Sciences. 69 ( 3 ) : 899 -- 908. doi : 10.1007 / s12665 - 012 - 1975 - 6. Jump up ^ Ajmone - Marsan. F et al. ( 2005 ) Phosphorus transformations under reduction in long - term manured soils. Jump up ^ Conley, Daniel J. ; et al. ( 2009 ). `` Controlling Eutrophication : Nitrogen and Phosphorus ''. Science. 323 : 1014 -- 1015. CS1 maint : Explicit use of et al. ( link ) External links Part III of `` Matter cycles '' : The phosphorus cycle, Lenntech Water treatment & air purification, Holding B.V. 2006 Environmental Literacy Council - Phosphorus Cycle Monitoring and assessing water quality, section 5.6 Phosphorus - EPA Prentice Hall Biology, Kenneth R. Miller and Joseph Levine 2001 Katie Corbin - Soil Microbiology Environmental Literacy Council : Phosphorus Cycle Biogeochemical cycles Cycles Carbon cycle Hydrogen cycle Iron cycle Mercury cycle Mineral cycle Nitrogen cycle Oxygen cycle ozone Phosphorus cycle Rock cycle Selenium cycle Sulfur cycle Water cycle Research groups DAAC GEOTRACES IMBER NOBM SOLAS Related topics Biogeochemistry geochemical cycle chemical cycling environmental chemistry Biosequestration carbon sequestration carbon sink soil carbon biological pump mycorrhizal fungi Ocean acidification acid rain Methane clathrate clathrate gun hypothesis Arctic methane emissions Human impact on the nitrogen cycle Lichens and nitrogen cycling Nitrification Nitrogen fixation Nitrogen assimilation Phosphorus assimilation Sulfur assimilation Planetary boundaries Human impact on the environment General Environmental issues List of issues Human impact Impact assessment Planetary boundaries Causes Agriculture fishing irrigation meat production cocoa production palm oil Energy industry biofuels biodiesel coal electricity generation nuclear power oil shale petroleum reservoirs wind power Genetic pollution Industrialization Land use Manufacturing cleaning agents concrete plastics nanotechnology paint paper pesticides pharmaceuticals and personal care Mining Overdrafting Overfishing Overgrazing Overexploitation Overpopulation Particulates Pollution Quarrying Reservoirs Tourism Transport aviation roads shipping Urbanization urban sprawl war Effects Biodiversity threats Biodiversity loss Climate change Global warming Runaway climate change Coral reefs Deforestation Defaunation Desertification Ecocide Erosion Environmental degradation Freshwater cycle Habitat destruction Holocene extinction Nitrogen cycle Land degradation Land surface effects on climate Loss of green belts Phosphorus cycle Ocean acidification Ozone depletion Resource depletion Water degradation Water scarcity Mitigation Birth control Cleaner production Climate change mitigation Climate engineering Ecological engineering Environmental engineering Environmental mitigation Industrial ecology Mitigation banking Organic farming Reforestation urban Restoration ecology Sustainable consumption Waste minimization Commons by country assessment mitigation Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Phosphorus_cycle&oldid=859246706 '' Categories : Biogeochemical cycle Soil biology Soil chemistry Phosphorus Hidden categories : CS1 maint : Explicit use of et al. 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Question: what is the purpose of the phosphorus cycle
Answer: describes the movement of phosphorus through the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere