Phosphorus Movement in Soil and Water

Phosphorus moves through ecosystems mostly as phosphate ions in soil, water, sediment, and rocks. Unlike carbon, water, and nitrogen, it is not found in the atmosphere as a gas. It is also often a limiting nutrient, which means it is in short supply in many environments.

Phosphorus is important i...

In the phosphorous cycle, phosphorous atoms exist primarily in rock, not a gaseous state. When rock erodes, the phosphorous is released and becomes dissolved in streams, lakes and ground water.

Plants and algae use these free inorganic phosphates in the soil or water to produce organic molecules. Then by consuming the plants, heterotroph...