Why is phosphorus cycle the slowest biogeochemical cycle?

1 Answer
Jun 12, 2017

Phosphorous cycle is evidently the slowest biogeochemical cycle.

Explanation:

First of all let's understand what a biogeochemical cycle is:
In basic terms, a biogeochemical cycle is a cycle which occurs in nature to cycle chemicals in the environment. A biogeochemical cycle has two reservoirs: abiotic and biotic.

Every living organism dies one day and its remains which were earlier a component of the biotic reservoir now become a part of the abiotic reservoir. The abiotic reservoir is composed of lithosphere (soil), atmosphere (air), and hydrosphere (water).

Phosphorus's abiotic reservoir isn't the atmosphere, and isn't present in a gas form in any useful amount.The chemicals having atmosphere as one of the abiotic reserves cycle more easily.

As compared to nitrates & other macro elements, decomposers take longer time to decompose any dead biota into phosphates. Decomposers are organisms especially a soil bacterium, fungus, or invertebrate, that decompose organic material.

These are the reasons for phosphorus cycle being the slowest biogeochemical cycle.