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Phosphorous Cycle
The biogeochemical cycle that describes the movement of phosphorous through the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere, without an atmospheric component.
Limiting Factor
A nutrient that is in short supply and restricts the growth of organisms, such as phosphorous and nitrogen.
Weathering of Rock
The process that breaks down rocks, releasing phosphorous into the land and oceans.
Fertilizer Contribution
The addition of phosphorous through fertilizers that enters streams, soil, or is absorbed by plants.
Excretion and Decomposition
The processes by which animals excrete phosphates and decomposing organic matter returns phosphates to the land and sea.
Dissolved Phosphates
Phosphates that are in solution in water, which can precipitate out and contribute to ocean phosphorous levels.
Biological Importance
Phosphorous is essential for various biological functions, including its role in DNA, RNA, and ATP.
Liming Reagent
Phosphorous is used as a liming agent to adjust soil pH and improve soil quality.
Solubility
Phosphorous is not very soluble in water, leading to much of it precipitating out as phosphate (PO4-3).
Algal Blooms
Rapid growth of algae in phosphorous-limited environments that can create oxygen-poor conditions in water bodies.
Dead Zones
Areas in aquatic environments where oxygen levels are so low that most marine life cannot survive, often caused by algal blooms.
