Why is phosphorus cycle the slowest biogeochemical cycle?
1 Answer
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.
