Phosphorus Cycle Facts: Importance And Uses Explained

Did you know that the phosphorus cycle is one of the most important biogeochemical cycles on Earth?

This little-known cycle helps to control the amount of phosphorus in our environment. It is also essential for plant and animal life.

In 1669, the German alchemist Hennig Brand discovered this element. It is because of phosphorus that we can contract our muscles.

It is also highly responsible for cell development and the formation of DNA, ATP (adenosine triphosphate), and lipids (oils and fats) in our bodies.

So, what we call the phosphorus cycle is the movement of this element through the hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere. This cycle involves the water, soil, and sediments; that's why we find evidence of two kinds of phosphorus cycles, the land-based cycle and the water-based cycle.

In this article, we will discuss the importance of phosphorus and how it is used in our everyday lives. We will also explore some fun facts about this fascinating element!

Meaning Of The Phosphorus Cycle

The phosphorus cycle is one of the biogeochemical cycles of the planet, and it describes how phosphorus moves through the environment.

The phosphorus cycle includes all of the ways in which phosphorus changes its chemical form and moves between different parts of ecosystems, including plants, animals, and microorganisms living in soil or water bodies.

It also goes through human activities such as agriculture, mining for phosphate rock, and industry releases into air or waterways which may affect levels of this element naturally contained within these systems over time.

Phosphorus is an important mineral nutrient for life on Earth. It plays a crucial role in plant growth, one example being photosynthesis where carbon dioxide from the atmosphere reacts with water vapor produced by leaves to produce glucose (sugar) energy molecules needed by cells throughout their entire organism.

The element is also needed by animals for energy, bone formation, and other metabolic processes. In fact, phosphorus is found in all body tissues and organs.

It is an essential component of DNA and RNA (nucleotides and nucleic acids), the genetic blueprints for life as well as being a component of numerous enzymes which drive chemical reactions necessary for life.

Importance Of The Phosphorus Cycle

Phosphorus has always been important to humans, but its value has increased in recent years because the growth in the human population and their demand for food has outstripped the rate at which new phosphate rock deposits are being discovered and mined.

As a result, there has been an increase in the price of phosphate fertilizers on the world market, making it more difficult to produce enough food for everyone to have an adequate diet.

This is one of the reasons why it is important to recycle phosphorus back into the environment where it can be used by plants and returned to the soil as fertilizer.

As is already mentioned, phosphorus is essential not only in plant growth but also in the formation of numerous vital enzymes in animal bodies. The phosphorus cycle helps in balancing the concentration of phosphorus on the Earth's surface.

Through this process, a hospitable environment is created for plants. That's why many farmers use phosphate fertilizers to make the soil more fertile and to facilitate plant growth.

Phosphorous is known for existing in a combined form with nitrogen and sulfur. So, the phosphorus cycle also balances the availability of these elements in nature. Not only that, but through a good understanding of the mechanism of phosphorous, we can also comprehend the physiology of various microorganisms that are involved in the phosphorus cycle.

However, plants do not get most of the phosphorous because the element is mostly locked up in sedimentary rocks. Even if there is a good amount of phosphorous available in soils, only a minor portion is available to plants.

Effect Of The Phosphorus Cycle On Plants

Though phosphorous is an essential element in our ecosystem (including aquatic ecosystems), it leaves behind some detrimental effects that are worth noting.

Most of the mined phosphorus is mainly used to make artificial fertilizers, which in turn are used in agriculture to help increase crop yields. It can also be added to soils that have been depleted of nutrients to restore their fertility.

In addition, phosphorus compounds are widely used in industry for manufacturing products such as plastics, detergents, solvents, and paints. Phosphorus-containing explosives are also important components of military weapons.

However, most of these uses of phosphorous often lead to eutrophication. It happens when a significant amount of phosphorus present in the fertilizer used in agriculture or detergent water enters the aquatic ecosystems through leaching or surface run-off (in the same way it also enters the marine food webs).

These phosphates lead to the excessive growth of algae and other microbes in waterways, estuaries, and lakes, which in turn decrease the oxygen levels in the water and cause other marine animals and organisms to die.

Main Steps Of The Phosphorus Cycle

The phosphorus cycle is a slow process that recycles the amount of phosphorus in soil and water bodies. The process goes through mainly four steps; these are weathering, absorption by plants, absorption by animals, and return to the environment through decomposition.

The first stage of the phosphorus cycle is called weathering. It takes place in the Earth's crust simply because phosphorous is most commonly found in sedimentary rocks. Through the process of weathering phosphate salts are separated from rocks. Later they wash away into the ground and get mixed in the soil.

The second stage of the phosphorus cycle is known as absorption by plants. In this stage, plants absorb organic phosphorous that is dissolved in the soil water.

Through plants, phosphate salts are converted into inorganic forms. This process is also known as mineralization. Because phosphate salts are not very water-soluble, aquatic plants absorb the inorganic form of the phosphorous present in the bottom layer of water bodies.

The next stage is called absorption by animals. This is perhaps the fastest part of the whole phosphorus cycle. Here phosphorous finds its way into animals when the latter ones consume plants or plant-eating animals.

Herbivorous animals, birds, and fish are known for consuming terrestrial and marine plants. Similarly, phosphorous is transferred to carnivores through their consumption of herbivores or plant-eating animals. Apart from that, animals also absorb phosphorous when they drink water.

Finally, consumers of phosphorous, like animals, birds, plants, and fish, are deposited in soil and water bodies after they die of natural causes or for some other reasons. Once that happens, bacteria and other microbes wait for conducive environmental conditions to decompose dead organisms.

Through this process, organic phosphates are again converted to their inorganic forms and are deposited into the soil or ocean floor. Once they are back in soil and water they become a part of new rock formations and remain there for millions of years.

It may be a long process, but at a certain point, phosphorus will again get mixed into the soil through the process of weathering. Even though this element is known for staying for a long period in a particular ecosystem unit, gradually it recycles back to the environment.

That's why we find the percentage composition of phosphorus remaining at a constant value.

FAQS

What is the importance of the phosphorus cycle?

Phosphorous plays a crucial role in the growth of plants and animals, and the cycle makes sure that phosphorous previously absorbed by living organisms return to the environment.

What are the 4 major steps of the phosphorus cycle?

The phosphorus cycle is one of the slowest biogeochemical cycles; the major steps of this process are weathering, absorption by plants, absorption by animals, and return to the environment through decomposition.

What would happen if the phosphorus cycle stopped?

No phosphorus cycle means no available phosphate salts in the soil and water. If this happens plants and algae will die and the oxygen level of the planet will start decreasing. At a certain point, there will be no oxygen on the Earth's surface, and that means there will be no life.

How does the phosphorus cycle restart?

Once bacteria decompose dead animals and plants and convert organic phosphates into their inorganic forms, phosphates become a part of new rock formations. After millions of years, they again find their way into the soil and water through the weathering process. That's how the phosphorus cycles restart.

What organic compound is phosphorus found in?

Phosphorous is found in the organic compounds called 'organophosphorus compounds.'

How was phosphorus named?

The name phosphorus is a derivation of the Greek word 'phosphoros,' which means the bringer of light.

What is special about the phosphorus cycle?

Through this cycle, phosphorous returns to the environment, and helps living organisms sustain and keep the cycle of life functioning.

What are 3 ways humans have impacted the phosphorus cycle?

By cutting down tropical rain forests, using phosphate fertilizers, and spilling phosphate during transportation, humans have impacted the global phosphorus cycle.

Does the phosphorus cycle transfer energy?

Yes, phosphorous is intimately involved in the transfer of energy.

Can we live without phosphorus?

No. Plants cannot grow or produce oxygen without phosphorus, and humans cannot live without oxygen.

How long does the phosphorus cycle take?

Being one of the slowest biogeochemical cycles, the phosphorus cycle takes millions of years to complete.

How does phosphorus get into the water?

It mostly remains attached to soil particles and enters the water through leaching or from run-off.