Lesson 7: Phosphorous Cycle Flashcards
Unit 1
1
Q
Phosphorus Cycle
A
No gas phase, doesn’t enter atmosphere, making it slower than other cycles
2
Q
What are some major phosphorus reservoirs?
A
Rocks & sediments
3
Q
How is Phosphorus released from rocks?
A
Those rocks have to undergo weathering (the breakdown of rocks by wind & rain)
4
Q
How does Phosphorus cycle through ecosystems?
A
Phosphorus is stored in rocks that undergo weathering which releases phosphorus ions which are then carried away by runoff or wind, transporting sediments from one place to another. That’s how phosphorus cycles.
5
Q
Why is Phosphorus often the limiting factor of plant growth?
A
Because plants have all the other nutrients that they need to grow except for enough phosphorus.
