Question

State the different types of bio-geochemical cycles and explain the importance of those cycles.

Answer 1

To maintain the concentrations of different naturally occurring substances in the environment, there are mechanisms that constantly recycle these substances. These recycling mechanisms are called biogeochemical cycles. So, biogeochemical cycles are the cyclic flow of nutrients between non-living environments and living organisms.

Types of Biogeochemical Cycles:

There are two major types of biogeochemical cycles

1. Gaseous cycle: These are the biogeochemical cycles in which the reservoir pool is the atmosphere or hydrosphere. For example, the carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle etc.
2. Sedimentary cycles: These are the biogeochemical cycles in which the reservoir pool is generally lithosphere. For example, the Phosphorous cycle, Sulphur cycle etc.

Importance of bio-geochemical cycle:

• Plants require nutrients such as water, CO₂, phosphorus, potassium, nitrogen, and so on, whereas animals require carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and so on.
• After death, producers and consumers decompose and emit substances that mix with the soil.
• The biogeochemical cycle allows for the cyclic movement of nutrients.
• The cyclic migration of elements such as carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and others happens continuously on Earth.