Biogeochemical Cycles: Detailed Overview, Environmental Science

Edited By Irshad Anwar | Updated on Oct 21, 2024 11:25 AM IST

Biogeochemical cycles are some of the important recycling processes that take place for elements like carbon nitrogen Oxygen and phosphorus through the earth's atmosphere lithosphere hydrosphere and biosphere. These cycles are important due to the maintenance of the balance of the ecosystem as well as the continuous flow of nutrients and energy throughout the planet. Biogeochemicals are one of the topics in Biology and they carry a weightage of 4% in NEET and 4-5% in CBSE and other Paramedical Exams.

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This Story also Contains

What are Biogeochemical Cycles?
Types Of Biogeochemical Cycles
Gaseous Cycle
Sedimentation Cycle
Importance Of Biogeochemical Cycles
Types of Questions Asked from Biogeochemical Cycle
Tips, Tricks, and Strategies for Biogeochemical Cycle

What are Biogeochemical Cycles?

The words "bio" and "geo," refer to the biosphere and "geo" and "chemical," refer to the elements that flow through a cycle. These three words altogether are the roots of the phrase "biogeochemical."

Atoms make up the preserved stuff that exists on Earth. Since matter cannot be generated or destroyed, it is recycled in a variety of ways throughout the Earth's system.

The remainder of the elements are present in a closed system, and the earth receives energy from the sun that is reflected as heat. Major components include:

Carbon
Hydrogen
Nitrogen
Oxygen
Phosphorus
Sulphur

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Types Of Biogeochemical Cycles

Essentially, there are two categories of biogeochemical cycles. Both of them are discussed below in the table:

Features	Gaseous Cycle	Sedimentation Cycle
Explanation	Gaseous cycles involve the moment of gasses through the atmosphere, lithosphere and biosphere.	Involves the movement of nutrients like sediments, soils and bodies.
Examples	Carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle Oxygen cycle and water cycle.	Sulfur cycle, Phosphorus cycle and Rock cycle.
Phases	The primary gaseous phase dominates.	Solid phases are predominant.
Storage	Gases are stored in the atmosphere and biosphere.	Nutrients are student rocks, soils and sediments.
Duration	Shorter duration	Longer duration

Gaseous Cycle

Major Cycles of Gaseous cycles are discussed below:

Biogeochemical Cycle	Definition	Importance
Water Cycle	There is the continuous moment of water in different phases such as evaporation condensation precipitation infiltration and runoff	Regulates the weather pattern Is one of the essential aspects of life. Effects the temperature and pressure of the environment.
Nitrogen cycle	This is one of the processes of Nitrogen of moving between the atmosphere, soil and living organisms. This process is crucial for protein and nucleic acid synthesis.	It is important for plant growth and supports the protein synthesis in the living organisms. The nitrogen cycle also helps in maintaining the balance in the ecosystem.
Oxygen cycle	The moment of oxygen through the atmosphere biosphere and lithosphere in different steps takes place in the cycle.	The oxygen cycle is essential for all aerobic respiratory organisms. This cycle supports life on Earth and maintains the atmospheric balance.
Carbon Cycle	The continuous flow of carbon between the atmosphere living organisms and geological formations takes place during the cycle.	The carbon cycle helps in regulating the Global climate and is essential for energy flow between the ecosystems. It is also responsible for influencing the greenhouse effect.

Sedimentation Cycle

Some major cycles for the sedimentation cycle are discussed below:

Sedimentation Cycles	Explanation	Importance
Phosphorus Cycle	There is a continuous moment of phosphorus through the hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere which is very important for the growth of plants and animals present on the planet.	It is important for DNA RNA and ATP production that takes place in humans as well as other animals' bodies. Supports plant growth and development. It affects the aquatic ecosystem which leads to eutrophication.
Sulfur Cycle	The continuous movement of sulfur from plants' soils and atmosphere is important for the protein synthesis that takes place in various metabolic processes.	The sulfur cycle is important for amino acids and Protein synthesis in the living organism's body. It also contributes to the formation of acid rain which is released into the atmosphere. Apart from this, there is also microbial as well as plant metabolism taking place due to the cycle.

Importance Of Biogeochemical Cycles

These cycles provide an example of how energy is utilized. These cycles transport the components needed for life to exist throughout the biosphere. They are essential because they recycle materials, store them as well, and control the essential materials through physical characteristics.

Ecosystems can continue to exist because of these cycles, which show how living and nonliving entities interact in ecosystems.
Due to the cycle, there are important processes taking place such as photosynthesis respiration nitrogen fixation which completely rely on the availability of elements which are provided by biogeochemical cycles.
Cycles like carbon and water cycles are very important for regulating Earth's climatic conditions.
The biogeochemical cycle is also responsible for breaking down the waste products and decomposing the dead organisms which return the essential nutrients to the ecosystem.

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Types of Questions Asked from Biogeochemical Cycle

During exam preparation, different types of questions about the Biogeochemical Cycle are asked. The table below contains the different patterns of questions asked in different exams.

Exam Type	Types of Questions Asked	Weightage
CBSE	Importance of biogeochemical cycles in ecosystems (e.g., carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus cycles). Explanation of processes such as nitrogen fixation, photosynthesis, and decomposition. Role of biogeochemical cycles in maintaining balance in the environment. Steps involved in the water, carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen cycles. Human impact on biogeochemical cycles (e.g., pollution, deforestation).	4%
NEET	Different stages of biogeochemical cycles (e.g., nitrogen fixation, nitrification, denitrification). Role of microorganisms in cycles (e.g., nitrogen cycle bacteria). Detailed study of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycles. Human intervention and its effect on cycles (e.g., global warming, eutrophication). Cycles' importance in sustaining life and ecosystems.	4%
Paramedical	Impact of biogeochemical cycles on human health and ecosystems. Role of microbes in nitrogen and sulfur cycles. Effect of disruptions in biogeochemical cycles on health and disease transmission. Importance of biogeochemical cycles in maintaining ecological balance and preventing environmental degradation. Human-induced changes in biogeochemical cycles and their ecological consequences.	3%

Tips, Tricks, and Strategies for Biogeochemical Cycle

It takes effort to remember everything in a single go. We made the entire problem easy. Some of the tricks regarding Biogeochemical Cycle are given below which you can use to memorise the important points.

Types of Biogeochemical Cycles
"GS: Gaseous, Sedimentary"
G: Gaseous cycles (carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, water cycles)
S: Sedimentary cycles (phosphorus, sulfur, rock cycle)

Water Cycle Stages
"ECPI: Evaporation, Condensation, Precipitation, Infiltration"
E: Evaporation (water turns into vapor)
C: Condensation (vapor turns into clouds)
P: Precipitation (rainfall, snowfall)
I: Infiltration (water seeps into the ground)

Nitrogen Cycle Stages
"FANAD: Fixation, Assimilation, Nitrification, Ammonification, Denitrification"
F: Fixation (conversion of nitrogen gas to ammonia)
A: Assimilation (plants absorb nitrogen)
N: Nitrification (ammonia to nitrate)
A: Ammonification (release of ammonia from dead matter)
D: Denitrification (nitrate to nitrogen gas)

Carbon Cycle Stages
"PPP: Photosynthesis, Plants, Pollution"
P: Photosynthesis (plants absorb carbon)
P: Plants consumed by animals (carbon enters the food chain)
P: Pollution from fossil fuels (carbon returns to the atmosphere)

Phosphorus Cycle
"WARP: Weathering, Absorption, Return, Phosphate"
W: Weathering (rocks release phosphorus)
A: Absorption (plants absorb phosphorus)
R: Return (phosphorus returns to soil through decay)
P: Phosphate (phosphate fertilizers for plants)

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