DOC-20240929-WA0011.

BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES
Any natural pathways by which essential elements of living matter are

circulated can be called as biogeochemical cycle.
Types of biogeochemical
1. Gaseous cycle:
• The main reservoir of nutrients is the atmosphere and
hydrosphere.
• They are usually perfect- nutrients are replaced as fast as they
are utilised.
Example: nitrogen cycle, carbon cycle, water cycle, oxygen
cycle etc.
2. Sedimentary cycle :
• The main reservoir is the soil and the sedimentary and other
rocks of earth’s crust.
• These are imperfect as some nutrients as some nutrients lost get
locked into sediments and are unavailable for immediate
cycling.
Example: phosphorus cycle ,Sulphur cycle ,calcium cycle,
magnesium cycle, etc
GASEOUS CYCLES
Nitrogen Cycle
• Nitrogen is a constituent of amino acids, proteins, hormones, chlorophylls
and many of the vitamins.
• Nitrogen exists as 2 nitrogen atoms (N2) joined by a very strong triple
covalent bond (N ≡ N).
• There is an inexhaustible supply of nitrogen in the atmosphere, but the

elemental form cannot be used directly by most of the living organisms.
• Nitrogen needs to be ‘fixed’, that is, converted to ammonia, nitrites or
nitrates, before it can be taken up by plants.
• Nitrogen fixation on earth is accomplished in three different ways:
o By microorganisms-
Rhizobium,Cynobacteria, Azotobacter, Clostridium and
Rhodospirillum
o By atmospheric phenomena such as thunder and lighting.
o By man using industrial processes (fertiliser factories) and
Various steps of nitrogen fixation
▪ Step 1: N2 Fixing ==> Nitrogen → Ammonia or Ammonium Ions

▪ Step 2: Nitrification ==> Ammonia or Ammonium Ions → Nitrite →
Nitrate
▪ Step 3: Ammonification ==> Dead Matter + Animal Waste (Urea,
Uric Acid) → Ammonia or Ammonium Ions
▪ Step 4: Denitrification ==> Nitrate → Nitrogen
Most of the ammonia escapes into the atmosphere. Rest is Nitrified (Step 2) to
nitrates. Some of the nitrates is available for plants. Rest is Denitrified (Step
4).The amount of nitrogen fixed by man through the industrial process has far
exceeded the amount fixed by the Natural Cycle. As a result, nitrogen fixed by
man has become a pollutant which can disrupt the balance of nitrogen. It may lead
to Acidrain, Eutrophication and Harmful Algal Blooms.
Carbon Cycle
• Carbon is a minor constituent of the atmosphere as compared to oxygen

and nitrogen.
• However, without carbon dioxide life could not exist because it is vital
for the production of carbohydrates through photosynthesis by plants.
• It is the element that anchors all organic substances from coal and oil to
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid: the compound that carries genetic
information).
• Carbon is present in the atmosphere, mainly in the form of carbon dioxide
(CO2).
• Carbon cycle involves a continuous exchange of carbon between the
atmosphere and organisms.
• Carbon from the atmosphere moves to green plants by the process of
photosynthesis, and then to animals.
• By process of respiration and decomposition of dead organic matter, it
returns to the atmosphere. It is usually a short term cycle.
• Some carbon also enters a long term cycle. It accumulates as un-
decomposed organic matter in the peaty layers of marshy soil or as
insoluble carbonates in bottom sediments of aquatic systems which take a
long time to be released.
• In deep oceans, such carbon can remain buried for millions of years till
geological movement may lift these rocks above sea level.
• These rocks may be exposed to erosion, releasing their carbon dioxide,
carbonates and bicarbonates into streams and rivers
• Fossil fuels such as coals, oil and natural gas etc. are organic compounds
that were buried before they could be decomposed and were subsequently
transformed by time and geological processes into fossil fuels. When they
are burned the carbon stored in them is released back into the atmosphere
as carbon dioxide.
Oxygen Cycle
• Oxygen cycle, along with the carbon cycle and nitrogen cycle plays an
essential role in the existence of life on the earth. The oxygen cycle is a
biological process which helps in maintaining the oxygen level by
moving through three main spheres of the earth which are: Atmosphere,
Lithosphere, Biosphere
• Green plants during the process of photosynthesis, release oxygen back
into the atmosphere as a by-product.
• All aerobic organisms use this free oxygen for respiration.
• Animals exhale Carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere which is again
used by the plants during photosynthesis. Now oxygen is balanced within
the atmosphere.
• Photolysis –splitting of water in the presence of sunlight is the breakdown
of the water molecule into hydrogen and oxygen.
Water Cycle
• In water cycle there is a continues exchange of water between

atmosphere, water bodies and landmass through process of evaporation,
condensation, and precipitation (rainfall).
• Evaporation: sun heats up water bodies which lead to evaporation of
some water into air and rising air current takes the vapour up in the sky.
• Along with this process, plants and trees also loose water to the
atmosphere in the form of vapour . This is called transpiration.
• Condensation: vapour which rises up gets cooled because of cooler
temperature . Due to this water vapour turns back into liquid through the
condensation process.
• Precipitation: clouds become water laden and they develop into rain
bearing clouds and fall back into earth’s surface as rain. This called
precipitation.
• After precipitation water runs off into water bodies and some absorbed
into soil.
SEDIMENTARY CYCLES
Phosphorus Cycle
• Unlike carbon and nitrogen, which come primarily from the atmosphere,
phosphorus occurs in large amounts as a mineral in phosphate rocks and
enters the cycle from erosion and mining activities.
• This is the nutrient considered to be the main cause of excessive growth
of rooted and freefloating microscopic plants (phytoplankton) in lakes
(leads to eutrophication).
• The main storage for phosphorus is in the earth’s crust.
• On land, phosphorus is usually found in the form of phosphates.
•
Weathering and Erosion

• Phosphorus is released into the environment through the weathering and
erosion of rocks and minerals.
Absorption
• Plants absorb phosphorus from the soil and incorporate it into their tissues.
Consumption
• Herbivores consume plants, and carnivores consume herbivores,

transferring phosphorus up the food chain.
Decomposition
• When plants and animals die, their tissues decompose, releasing

phosphorus back into the soil.
Mineralization
• During decomposition, phosphorus is converted from an organic form to

an inorganic form that can be taken up by plants.
Sedimentation
• Over time, phosphorus can accumulate in sedimentary rocks and become

locked up in geological formations.
Geological Uplift
• Geological uplift can bring phosphorus-rich rocks to the surface, restarting

the phosphorus cycle.

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BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES

Any natural pathways by which essential elements of living matter are

• There is an inexhaustible supply of nitrogen in the atmosphere, but the

o By atmospheric phenomena such as thunder and lighting.

o By man using industrial processes (fertiliser factories) and

Various steps of nitrogen fixation

▪ Step 1: N2 Fixing ==> Nitrogen → Ammonia or Ammonium Ions

• Carbon is a minor constituent of the atmosphere as compared to oxygen

• In water cycle there is a continues exchange of water between

Weathering and Erosion

• Herbivores consume plants, and carnivores consume herbivores,

• When plants and animals die, their tissues decompose, releasing

• During decomposition, phosphorus is converted from an organic form to

• Over time, phosphorus can accumulate in sedimentary rocks and become

• Geological uplift can bring phosphorus-rich rocks to the surface, restarting

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