Phosphorus: Its Essential Role and Material Cycle

University of the people
ENVS 1301: INTRODUCTION TO
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Written Assignment Unit 4
Introduction
For this assignment, I decided to choose phosphorus and its material cycle. Firstly, let me introduce this element. There is not much phosphorus on Earth (only about 0.1 percent of the
Earth's crust is phosphorus), it is an essential nutrient for all life forms on our planet.
According to Ruttenberg, phosphorus is a vital nutrient for plants and animals, which limiting nutrient for aquatic organisms and structures elements of important life-sustaining molecules which are quite prevalent in the biosphere. (Ruttenberg, 2003).
Phosphorus does not access the atmosphere, remaining chiefly on land and in rock and soil minerals. In-depth look
Phosphorus cycles between

When the animal dies, its remains are decomposed and the constituent ions are released into the soil, after which they are taken up by plants. Animals consuming these plants gain the phosphorus again, and the cycle continues.
For human and animals, phosphates are essential components of DNA, fat molecules of the cell membranes and are also a component of energy depositing molecules like the ATP and ADP.
Phosphorus is also a building block of certain parts like bones and teeth (Ruttenberg, 2003).
Most of the phosphorus that is mined is used to make fertilizers. Humans influence the phosphorus cycle largely by the use of fertilizers and raising livestock, particularly hogs.
If levels of phosphorus are too high, the excess of plant nutrients serves to drive the disproportionate growth of algae. Nevertheless, these algae die or form algae blooms, which are toxic to the plants and animals in the ecosystem. (Emsley, 1980)
With regards to phosphorus and agriculture, the most considerable impacts that I make happened when I purchase pork. By consuming its meat I am supporting the increase of hog livestock and as a results continuation of wrecking