KK I know that the Nitrogen cycle is the way that nitrogen in nature is changed into many different forms that are used by living organisms, but I have to explain how the phosphorus cycle differs from that cycle, and I don't know about that. Is it possible for you to provide me with a simple explanation on how they both differ from each other?
Study some of these diagrams.
http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUS374&q=nitrogen+cycle&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=3bIzTI2qCYKB8gb2s5XJCw&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CCUQsAQwAA
http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUS374&q=phosphorus+cycle&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=BrMzTJ3_D8L78AauqeDICw&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CCEQsAQwAA
The only difference I got is that it doesn't usually have a gas state.
Absolutely! The phosphorus cycle is another important biogeochemical cycle, but it differs from the nitrogen cycle in several ways.
1. Availability: Nitrogen is abundant in the atmosphere, comprising about 78% of the air we breathe. However, phosphorus is far less abundant and largely exists in rock formations and sediments. Phosphorus is released into the environment through weathering and erosion of rocks over long periods of time.
2. Forms: In the nitrogen cycle, nitrogen can exist in various forms such as atmospheric nitrogen (N₂), ammonia (NH₃), nitrite (NO₂⁻), and nitrate (NO₃⁻). These different forms can be utilized by plants and other organisms. On the other hand, phosphorus mostly exists as phosphate (PO₄³⁻). Phosphate is the primary form of phosphorus that can be absorbed and used by living organisms.
3. Movement: Nitrogen can undergo various transformations in the environment, including nitrogen fixation, nitrification, assimilation, ammonification, and denitrification. These processes result in the conversion of nitrogen from one form to another. Conversely, the movement of phosphorus in the environment is predominantly a geological process. Over time, phosphorus gets released into soils and bodies of water, where it can be taken up by plants and consumed by animals.
4. Limiting factor: Nitrogen is often the limiting factor for plant growth, meaning that its availability strongly influences the productivity of ecosystems. This is why nitrogen fertilizers are commonly used in agriculture. On the other hand, phosphorus is typically the limiting factor in freshwater ecosystems. High concentrations of phosphorus can lead to eutrophication, causing excessive algal growth and oxygen depletion in water bodies.
In summary, while the nitrogen cycle involves atmospheric nitrogen and nitrogen compounds, the phosphorus cycle primarily involves the movement of phosphate from rocks and sediments to the biological system. Additionally, nitrogen undergoes various transformations, while phosphorus primarily cycles through geological processes.