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Nutrients and minerals are always in circulation in the ecosystem from living
to non-living and vice-versa in a more or less circular pattern. Biogeochemical
cycles present a pathway through which various substances involved in these
nutrients and minerals, pass through biotic and abiotic components of the
earth.

Biogeochemical cycles

Importance of biogeochemical cycle:

1. It allows the transfer of molecules from one locality to another.

2. It enables the transformation of matter from one form to another.
3. It facilitates the storage of elements. Elements are stored in their
natural reservoir and released to organisms in small consumable
amounts.
4. In case of any imbalance, it helps the ecosystem to restore it. It may
take a few days or a few years.
5. It links biotic and abiotic elements of ecosystems.

Biogeochemical cycles are sometimes called nutrient cycles because they

involve the transfer of compounds that provide support to living organisms.
Two important components of the cycle are:

1. Reservoir pool- atmosphere or rocks storing a large number of

nutrients.
2. Cycling pool- short storage of carbon in the form of plants and animals.

Elements transported by biogeochemical cycle have been categorised as:

1. Microelements- The elements which are required in smaller quantities

are referred to as microelements. For example, boron (used mainly by
green plants), copper (used by some enzymes) and molybdenum (used
by nitrogen-fixing bacteria).
2. Macroelements- The elements which are required in larger amounts
are referred to as macronutrients. For example, carbon, hydrogen,
oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur.

Types of Biogeochemical Cycles:

1. Gaseous cycles: Gaseous cycles include the transportation of matter

through the atmosphere. Gaseous cycles are: Carbon cycle, Nitrogen
cycle and Water Cycle
2. Sedimentary cycles: Sedimentary cycles include transportation of
matter through the ground to water means the lithosphere to the
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hydrosphere. Sedimentary cycles are the Phosphorus cycle and the

sulphur cycle.

Complete detail of all biogeochemical cycles are as follows:

70% of the earth's surface is covered with water but still, the world is facing an
acute water crisis. This is because, out of total water available on earth, 97.5%
is saltwater. Of the remaining water, 99% is locked in glaciers and
underground sources. So, technically, less than 1% of fresh water is available
for human use in the form of rivers, lakes, streams, etc. please note that this
less than 1% water availability is sufficient to fulfil the needs of even the last
man on this planet.

But owing to human encroachments at all levels, the existence of mankind

will be at risk in the near future if proper precautionary measures for
optimum use of water resources are not put in place. For instance, 12% of the
Indian population is already at the brunt of the "day zero" scenario.

To tackle this global problem of the water crisis, let us understand the genesis
of the water cycle through this article. This article consists of all relevant
information required from exam point of view.

Hydrological cycle (Water cycle)

The water cycle is

defined as continuous
circulation of water
from the earth to
atmosphere and vice
versa which is powered
by the energy of the
sun. It shows storage
and movement of water
between biosphere,
lithosphere and
hydrosphere.

Major Water Sinks

Water can be stored in

any of the reservoirs like atmosphere, oceans, lakes, rivers, soils, glaciers,
snowfields and groundwater.
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Processes involved

• The processes involved in the movement of water from one reservoir to

another are-
o Evaporation, condensation, precipitation, deposition, runoff,
infiltration, sublimation, transpiration, melting and
groundwater flow.
• The driving source of energy for the water cycle is solar radiation or
solar energy.
• Evaporation and precipitation are the main processes involved in the
water cycle.
• Some of the processes are discussed below:
o Evaporation- Water from the ocean, lakes, ponds, rivers and
streams evaporates by the sun’s heat and energy. Water remains
in vapor state in air and forms cloud.
o Transpiration- Evaporation through the plant surface due to
solar energy is known as transpiration. Plants also transfer a huge
amount of water in the atmosphere through transpiration.
o Precipitation- Cloud meets with the cold air in the mountains
and above forest regions and condenses to form rain precipitates.
o Condensation- It is the process by which water vapours in the
atmosphere gets converted into liquid droplets.
o Runoff: Water discharged from the surface is known as runoff. If
it is discharged through rivers, it is known as river runoff.

The ocean supplies most of the evaporated water. On average 84% of water
lost from the oceans through evaporations while 77% gained by precipitation.
Water from runoff, streams and rivers covers the 7% to balance the
evaporation deficit of oceans. On land, evaporation is 16% and precipitation is
23%.

Carbon cycle

The carbon cycle is a biogeochemical cycle where the carbon and its
compounds are continuously exchanged between the three spheres of earth,
i.e. hydrosphere, lithosphere and atmosphere (collectively called as
biosphere).
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Major carbon sinks of our Earth

• In the form of organic

molecules in living and dead
organisms in the biosphere.
• As the gaseous carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere.
• As organic matter in soils.
• As fossil fuels and
sedimentary deposits like
limestone, dolomite and chalk etc.
• As dissolved atmospheric
carbon dioxide in the oceans and
as calcium carbonate shells in
marine organisms.

Processes involved in the Carbon Cycle

• Photosynthesis: Ecosystem gains most of their carbon dioxide from

the atmosphere. Most of the autotrophs have a mechanism that allows
for the absorption of this gas into their cells. With the help of water and
energy from solar radiation, these organisms use photosynthesis to
chemically convert carbon dioxide to sugar molecules.
• Respiration: Carbon released from the ecosystem as carbon dioxide
gas by the process of respiration. It involves the breakdown of the
carbon-based organic molecule into carbon dioxide and some other
by-products in both plants and animals.
• Detritus food chain contains a number of organisms whose primary
role is to decompose organic matter. Partially decomposed organic
matter becomes part of the soil carbon storage pool.
• Ultimately organic material in the soil becomes part of soil constituents,
water and carbon dioxide which return to the atmosphere. This flow
accounts for most of the carbon from the atmosphere but not all.
• Diffusion: Carbon dioxide enters the water by this method. Once it is
dissolved in water it can remain as it is or can convert into carbonate or
bicarbonate. When carbon dioxide enters the ocean, carbonic acid is
formed.
• Certain organisms fix bicarbonate with calcium to form calcium
carbonate. This is used to make hardbodies such as shells and corals.
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When such organisms die their remains accumulate as carbonate-rich

deposits to the ocean floor.

Note- ocean deposits are the biggest sink of carbon on the planet.

• In the lithosphere, carbon is stored in both organic and inorganic forms.

Inorganic forms include fossil fuels, coal, natural gas, oil shale and
sedimentary deposits like limestone. Organic deposits are organic
matter, humus etc. some carbon dioxide released from volcanoes.

Nitrogen is important for living organisms to produce a number of complex

organic compounds like amino acids, building blocks of proteins and nucleic
acids (DNA and RNA). Though nitrogen is abundantly available in atmosphere
as dinitrogen (N2), it can not be directly used by living organisms. It needs to
be fixed before being utilised by the primary producers, i.e. plants. In the
same way, before being released in the atmosphere in the end, it should
again be converted in the form it originally was. This complete transfer of
nitrogen from the atmosphere to living beings and then back to the
atmosphere represents the nitrogen cycle.

Here in the article, all relevant details regarding nitrogen cycle are discussed
below which are important for exams like UPSC, State PCS and other
government examinations.

Nitrogen Cycle

The main processes involved in the nitrogen cycle-

Nitrogen fixation

It involves the conversion of gaseous nitrogen into ammonia, which can be

used by plants. It can be done by following methods-

• Atmospheric fixation- This is done by lightening, combustion and

volcanic activity.
• Industrial fixation- This is done in industries at high temperature and
high-pressure where nitrogen molecule is broken into atomic nitrogen
and combines with hydrogen to form ammonia. This is also known as
Haber's Process.
• Bacterial fixation- Symbiotic and free-living bacterias can combine
atmospheric or dissolved nitrogen to form ammonia. Rhizobium in
roots of the leguminous plant is a symbiotic bacterium and nostac,
acetobacter is an example of free-living bacteria.
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Note: Symbiotic relationships are those relationships where both the

organisms are benefitted from each other. The classic example of symbiotic
relationship can be seen as Lichen which shows mutualism between algae
and fungi.

Nitrification

The process in which ammonia is converted into nitrates and nitrites by

Nitrosomonas and Nitrococcus bacteria respectively. Nitrobacter can convert
nitrate into nitrites.

Assimilation

Nitrogen fixed by plants is converted into organic molecules such as DNA,

RNA etc. which forms plant and animal tissues.

Ammonification

• Nitrogenous waste products such as urea and uric acid produced by

living organisms, waste products and dead remains of organisms are
converted back into inorganic ammonia by the bacteria.
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• Ammonifying bacterias like Clostridium, Pseudomonas, Streptomyces

etc. help in this process.

Denitrification

• The conversion of nitrates back into gaseous nitrogen is called

denitrification. This process is the reverse of nitrogen fixation.
• This can even lower the fertility of soil because nitrogen, which is
essential for the growth of plants, is removed from the soil and is lost to
the atmosphere.

Phosphorous cycle

The transport and chemical transformation of phosphorus through the

lithosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere are called phosphorus cycle.

The atmosphere does not play a significant role in the movement of

phosphorus because phosphorus or phosphorus-based compounds are
solids available in normal ranges of temperature and pressure of the earth.
Most of the phosphorus remains within rocks, sediments, sand and the ocean
floor with a fraction in living biomass. Phosphorus moves along trophic levels
in an ecosystem by plant growth, herbivores and carnivores.

Note- Phosphates are

effective fertilizers but they
also cause pollution in lakes
and streams. Over
enrichment of it can lead to
algae blooms. This excess of
algae causes increased
consumption by bacteria
which lead to higher
bacterial concentration. In
this process, bacteria use
much of dissolved oxygen in
the water for cellular
respiration and cause the death of fish due to oxygen deprivation.

Sulphur Cycle is a type of sedimentary cycle which is sediments based. It does

not involve circulation (in the form of gases) through the atmosphere as in
case of gaseous cycles. It consists of all such processes through which sulphur
is transferred from rocks to the living systems and vice versa.
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The topic 'Sulphur Cycle' forms part of 'Biogeochemical cycle' which is

important for various exams like UPSC, State PCS and other competitive
exams.

Sulphur cycle

Sulphur is used in the process of proteins and vitamins production. Proteins

consist of amino acids that contain sulphur atoms like thiophene. When
sulphur is dissolved in water, plants absorb them. Animal consume these
plants so that they take up enough sulphur to maintain their health.

• Most of the earth’s sulphur tied up in the rocks and salts or buried deep
in the ocean in oceanic sediments.
• Sulphur can also be found in the atmosphere. It enters the atmosphere
by both natural and human sources.
• Natural sources can be volcanic eruptions, bacterial processes and
evaporation from water or decaying organisms.
• Human activities mainly from industrial purposes where sulphur
dioxide and hydrogen sulphide gases are emitted on a wide scale.
• When sulphur dioxide enters the atmosphere it reacts with oxygen to
produce sulphur trioxide or with other chemicals to make sulphur salts.
Sulphur dioxide also reacts with water to produce sulphuric acid. All
these particles react with rain and fall back onto Earth as acid
deposition.
• The particles then are absorbed by plants again and are released back
into the atmosphere and then sulphur cycle will start over again.
• The entire Earth biosphere is a closed system so that nutrients are
neither imported nor exported from the biosphere. The biogeochemical
cycle also referred to as the cycle of nature because they link together
all organisms and abiotic component.
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