Question

How does phosphorus cycle differ from carbon cycle?

Answer 1

Hint: The recycling of carbon and phosphorus takes place with its main reservoir in water and sedimentary rocks respectively. Main deposits are found in rocks while main reservoirs are present in oceans.

Complete answer: A nutrient cycle is a part of the ecosystem where there is a circulation of nutrients from living things to nonliving things i.e. from biotic and abiotic parts in a biosphere. There are many nutrients that recycle in the atmosphere.

Carbon Cycle	Phosphorus Cycle
Carbon is found in many organisms as their backbone in the exoskeleton and constitutes about \[49\% \] of dry weight.	Phosphorus is the major component of biomolecules like ATP, nucleic acids, etc. and also found in bones and teeth.
It is a cycle of circulation of carbon through biotic and abiotic components in the ecosystem.	It is a cycle of circulation of phosphorus through biotic and abiotic components in the ecosystem.
It is a gaseous cycle.	It is a sedimentary cycle
The main reservoir of carbon is in water and which is found dissolved in oceans \[\left( {71\% } \right)\]	The main reservoir is found in rocks and not in the atmosphere.
It is regulated mainly by the water reservoir and remains in oceans most of the time.	It is regulated mainly by sedimentation on land and remains in rocks for most of the time.
Main sources of carbon are air, water, fossil fuel and rocks.	Main sources of ferric and calcium phosphate in rocks and also in soil with calcium, iron and aluminium.

Note: The other examples of gaseous cycles are hydrogen cycle, nitrogen cycle and oxygen cycle. Whereas, the examples of sedimentary cycles are sulphur, calcium and phosphorus cycles.