Question

What is the relationship between the carbon cycle, the nitrogen cycle, and the phosphorous cycle?

Answer 1

All are linked by their common interaction as essential parts of plant life cycles.

Explanation:

The “carbon cycle” is most often discussed because of its impact on and effects from atmospheric `CO_2` content. The nitrogen cycle is also mentioned frequently because of its major role in plant growth. Both nitrogen and phosphorous are often added to crops as fertilizers to enhance production of food. This impacts the nitrogen and phosphorous “natural” cycles in much the same way that burning hydrocarbons impacts the carbon cycle.

Recognizing the inter-dependencies of the three cycles is also important when considering the possibility of making a change to any one of them.