Phosphorus cycle

Phosphorus cycle

1. The Phosphorus Cycle

2. Phosphorus Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for plant growth It does not exist as a gas, but is mainly found in water, soil, and sediment

3. Phosphorus Cycle Phosphorus is found naturally in rocks Erosion by rainfall, weathering, and runoff allows phosphorus to be available to plants

4. Phosphorus Cycle Phosphorus is absorbed by roots in plants Animals eat the plants and it is passed up the food chain Phosphorus is returned to the soil by animal excretion and decomposition

5. Phosphorus Cycle The phosphorus cycle is the process in which phosphorus travels from its main source of rocks through ecosystems to living organisms.

6. Phosphorus Cycle Phosphate Mining Phosphate rock is found from 15-50ft below the ground in a phosphate matrix. The matrix is comprised of phosphate pebbles, sand, and clay. The sandy layer is removed by electrically operated drag lines. Then high pressure water guns turn the sandy layer into a mixture called slurry. The slurry is then sent to a processing facility. After the phosphate is collected it is use for common human products, such as fertilizer. Ingestion Animals eat plants and other organic materials containing phosphates.

7. Phosphorus Cycle Excretion Animals are a key element in the phosphorous cycle. They consume plants containing phosphorous and then excrete. The excrement is then turned into run-off in water and decomposed in either the ground or nearby water bodies by decomposers. Decomposition Organic material breaks down, returning organic phosphorus to the soil as inorganic phosphorus. The inorganic phosphorus then enters the oceans through runoff and erosion of rocks containing phosphorus.

8. Phosphorus Cycle Burial and Compaction After decomposition organisms are compacted into sediments to form rock. This then allows phosphorous to become trapped inside rocks until geologic uplift occurs. Geologic Uplift Uplift exposing underground rocks to the surface allows phosphorus to be made available to under go the phosphorus cycle.

9. Phosphorus Cycle Erosion Rocks or soil are broken down, transporting phosphorus across land or into water. Absorption Plants absorb phosphates through their roots.

10. Effects of Human Activities on the Phosphorous Cycle We remove large amounts of phosphate from the earth to make fertilizers and detergents. We reduce phosphorous in tropical soils by clearing forests. We add excess phosphates to aquatic systems from runoff of animal wastes and fertilizers. Humans mine phosphate rocks to make fertilizers and detergents Increasing erosion by removing vegetation Adding excess phosphorus to water from runoff from fertilizers and livestock waste

11. IMPORTANCE OF PHOSPHOROUS CYCLE 1.Phosphorous is an essential nutrient of both plants and animals. 2. It is part of DNA molecules which carry genetic information. 3. It is part of ATP and ADP) that store chemical energy for use by organisms in cellular respiration. 4. Forms phospholipids in cell membranes of plants and animal cells. 5. Forms bones, teeth, and shells of animals as calcium phosphate compounds.