Question

Phosphorus cycle is
A. Gaseous cycle
B. Perfect cycle
C. Imperfect cycle
D. Partly gaseous and partly sedimentary

Answer 1

Hint: Phosphorus cycle is a type of nutrient cycle. It is also known as the biogeochemical cycle. Biogeochemical cycles are processes of the cycling of the nutrients in the environment from one state to another and from one inorganic or organic form to the other.

Complete answer:
The phosphorus cycle is the cycling of the phosphorus element in our environment through the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere. It is not even a cycle perfectly. This is because unlike other elements, phosphorus does not go back to its source of origination. It is regarded as an imperfect cycle. When the rocks containing phosphorus are weathered, then it reaches into the soil and water. This phosphorus is taken by the plants in the form of ions from the soil. Plants synthesize phosphates which are transferred across the various trophic levels of the food chains. When the animals excrete then the phosphates are returned to the soil. Also, the death of animals and plants releases these phosphates via microbial activities. After this, the phosphates are leached into the soil or water. If they reach the water source then they help the algae to grow.

Thus, based on the above information we can conclude that the phosphorus cycle is an imperfect cycle.
Hence, the correct answer is option (C).

Note: Phosphorus is an important element in nature. This is because it is the main component of the biological membranes, nucleic acids, and mechanisms of cellular energy transfers. Several animals need phosphorus in large quantities to form the bones, shells, and teeth. It is the second most critical element after nitrogen.