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1.406z"></path> </svg></span></span> </button></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></header> <div id="inner-wrap" class="wrap kt-clear"> <div id="primary" class="content-area"> <div class="content-container site-container"> <main id="main" class="site-main" role="main"> <div class="content-wrap"> <article id="post-2616" class="entry content-bg single-entry post-2616 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-life-science category-natural-environment mv-content-wrapper"> <div class="entry-content-wrap"> <header class="entry-header post-title title-align-center title-tablet-align-center title-mobile-align-inherit"> <div class="kadence-breadcrumbs yoast-bc-wrap"><span><span><a href="https://earthhow.com/">Home</a></span> 禄 <span><a href="https://earthhow.com/category/life-science/">Life Science</a></span> 禄 <span class="breadcrumb_last" aria-current="page">Nutrient Cycle: From Inorganic to Organic Material</span></span></div><h1 class="entry-title">Nutrient Cycle: From Inorganic to Organic Material</h1><div class="entry-meta entry-meta-divider-customicon"> <div class="meta-comments"><span class="kadence-svg-iconset"><svg class="kadence-svg-icon kadence-comments-alt-svg" fill="currentColor" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="28" height="28" viewBox="0 0 28 28"><title>Comments</title><path d="M10 14c0 1.109-0.891 2-2 2s-2-0.891-2-2 0.891-2 2-2 2 0.891 2 2zM16 14c0 1.109-0.891 2-2 2s-2-0.891-2-2 0.891-2 2-2 2 0.891 2 2zM22 14c0 1.109-0.891 2-2 2s-2-0.891-2-2 0.891-2 2-2 2 0.891 2 2zM14 6c-6.5 0-12 3.656-12 8 0 2.328 1.563 4.547 4.266 6.078l1.359 0.781-0.422 1.5c-0.297 1.109-0.688 1.969-1.094 2.688 1.578-0.656 3.016-1.547 4.297-2.672l0.672-0.594 0.891 0.094c0.672 0.078 1.359 0.125 2.031 0.125 6.5 0 12-3.656 12-8s-5.5-8-12-8zM28 14c0 5.531-6.266 10-14 10-0.766 0-1.531-0.047-2.266-0.125-2.047 1.813-4.484 3.094-7.187 3.781-0.562 0.156-1.172 0.266-1.781 0.344h-0.078c-0.313 0-0.594-0.25-0.672-0.594v-0.016c-0.078-0.391 0.187-0.625 0.422-0.906 0.984-1.109 2.109-2.047 2.844-4.656-3.219-1.828-5.281-4.656-5.281-7.828 0-5.516 6.266-10 14-10v0c7.734 0 14 4.484 14 10z"></path> </svg></span><a class="meta-comments-link anchor-scroll" href="#comments">1 Comment</a></div></div></header> <div class="entry-content single-content"> <figure class="wp-block-image is-style-default"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="678" height="378" src="https://earthhow.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Nutrient-Cycle-678x378.png" alt="Nutrient Cycle" class="wp-image-2611"/></figure> <div class="wp-block-group" style="padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained"> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-default"/> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-text-align-center is-style-large is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"> <p>“Food for thought: The nutrient cycle constantly exchanges inorganic and organic matter back and forth in the environment. “</p> </blockquote> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-default"/> <div style="height:10px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div><p>Without the nutrient cycle, the remains of dead plants and animals would accumulate on the forest floor. And all forest life would collapse because vital compounds would remain tied up in the debris without decomposing it.</p> <p>The 3 main steps for the nutrient cycle are:</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Plants absorb nutrients from the atmosphere and soil</li> <li>Biomass littering into soils</li> <li>Fragmentation and decomposition by fungi and bacteria</li> </ul> <p>Let’s take a look at the nutrient cycle in more detail.</p></div></div><div class="wp-block-group" style="padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained"> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">1. Plants absorb nutrients from the atmosphere and soil</h3> <div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"> <figure class="alignright"><img decoding="async" width="290" height="300" src="https://earthhow.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Soil-Nutrients-290x300.png" alt="Soil Nutrients" class="wp-image-1694" srcset="https://earthhow.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Soil-Nutrients-290x300.png 290w, https://earthhow.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Soil-Nutrients.png 407w" sizes="(max-width: 290px) 100vw, 290px"/></figure></div><p>The first step in the nutrient cycle is how <a href="https://earthhow.com/tree-growth/">plants uptake nutrients from the soil and atmosphere</a>. After absorbing these nutrients, they store them as part of plant tissues.</p> <p>Remember that plants mostly grow from the contents of the air. For example, the atmosphere holds nutrients like carbon (CO<sub>2</sub>), hydrogen and oxygen (H<sub>2</sub>O) for <a href="https://earthhow.com/photosynthesis-process/">plant photosynthesis</a>. On average, a dried plant is 94% carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen.</p> <p>Also, plants absorb nutrients directly from soil organic matter. For example, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) is vital for plant survival. To a lesser extent, they need potassium (K), calcium (Ca), sulfur (S), and magnesium (Mg) from the soil.</p> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Element</strong></td><td><strong>Major Uptake Source</strong></td><td><strong>Purpose</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Carbon (C)</td><td>Atmosphere such as carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>)</td><td>~50% of hard plant material is cellulose which is a chain of glucose (C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>12</sub>O<sub>6</sub>).</td></tr><tr><td>Oxygen (O)</td><td>Atmosphere moisture and precipitation (H<sub>2</sub>O)</td><td>~40% of hard plant material is cellulose which is a chain of glucose (C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>12</sub>O<sub>6</sub>).</td></tr><tr><td>Hydrogen (H)</td><td>Atmosphere moisture and precipitation (H<sub>2</sub>O)</td><td>~5% of hard plant material is cellulose which is a chain of glucose (C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>12</sub>O<sub>6</sub>).</td></tr><tr><td>Nitrogen (N)</td><td>Soil organic matter from soluble NO<sub>3</sub> and NH<sub>4</sub>; Atmospheric N<sub>2</sub> from nitrogen fixing species</td><td>Chlorophyll and plant leaf development and everyday functions from proteins, <a href="https://earthhow.com/dna-vs-rna/">DNA and RNA</a>.</td></tr><tr><td>Phosphorus (P)</td><td>Soil organic matter; Soluble phosphorus.</td><td>Root growth and helping withstand environmental stress.</td></tr><tr><td>Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca), and Magnesium (Mg)</td><td>Soil organic matter: Soluble K<sup>+</sup>, Soluble Ca<sup>3+</sup>, Soluble Mg<sup>2+</sup></td><td>Plant strengthening, growth, and disease resistance.</td></tr></tbody></table></figure></div></div><div class="wp-block-group" style="padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained"> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">2. Biomass littering into soils</h3> <div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"> <figure class="alignright"><img decoding="async" width="290" height="300" src="https://earthhow.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Plant-Litter-290x300.png" alt="Plant Litter" class="wp-image-5698" srcset="https://earthhow.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Plant-Litter-290x300.png 290w, https://earthhow.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Plant-Litter.png 407w" sizes="(max-width: 290px) 100vw, 290px"/></figure></div><p>Plant litter is the dead, undecomposed material like twigs, leaves, and bark that fall from trees. After it falls to the ground, <a href="https://earthhow.com/food-chain-predators-herbivores-producers-decomposers/">decomposers break down litter</a> and it becomes part of the top organic layer of soil. Alternatively, foraging animals can munch on plants creating a waste of their own.</p> <p>In forest environments, much of the litter returns to the soil annually. For example, twigs, leaves, and pine needles that fall in the forest remain there. Thus, forests put less demand on soils because <a href="https://earthhow.com/soil-nutrients/">they mostly replenish nutrients</a><br>year-to-year.</p> <p>On the other hand, agricultural fields return little back to the ground because harvesting removes the litter from the site. This is why cultivated fields tend to add more stress to soils by not replenishing nutrients.</p></div></div><div class="wp-block-group" style="padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained"> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">3. Fragmentation and decomposition by fungi and bacteria</h3> <div class="wp-block-image is-style-default"> <figure class="alignright"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="290" height="300" src="https://earthhow.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Nutrient-Cycle-Diagram-290x300.png" alt="Nutrient Cycle Diagram" class="wp-image-5701" srcset="https://earthhow.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Nutrient-Cycle-Diagram-290x300.png 290w, https://earthhow.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Nutrient-Cycle-Diagram.png 407w" sizes="(max-width: 290px) 100vw, 290px"/></figure></div><p>After litter falls to the ground, decomposers break it even further. At this point, it can be recycled to be <a href="https://earthhow.com/food-chain-predators-herbivores-producers-decomposers/">part of the food chain</a> again. It releases nutrients and replenishes the soil keeping the nutrient cycle in balance.</p> <p>When animals die, insects like beetles and flies fragment the carcasses. These large decomposers break down larger debris into separate pieces increasing surface area. By increasing surface area, it exposes greater size available to smaller decomposers like <a href="https://earthhow.com/3-domains-of-life/">fungi, bacteria and other microbes</a>.</p> <p>These types of decomposers are microscopic in size, but they’re larger in numbers. As decomposers, they alter complex compounds into simple chemicals. In turn, plant roots can recycle these simple chemicals as a usable form and maintain new life.</p></div></div><div class="wp-block-group" style="padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained"> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Imagine life without decomposers</h3> <p>Because <a href="https://earthhow.com/escape-velocity-earth-closed-system/">Earth is a closed system</a>, nothing is taken out or in. For the nutrient cycle, it鈥檚 just recycled back and forth from inorganic to organic matter.</p> <p>This process of production and decomposition is deep-rooted and is the lifeblood in fully functional ecosystems. But if you could rewind the clock to the Carboniferous period, it was a time when trees grew to an incredible size.</p> <p>The main difference was that the decomposers that we have today didn鈥檛 fully evolve. Because decomposers were missing in this period, trees died and stacked on top one after another.</p> <p>Over time, trees compressed other trees. Then, the compaction formed peat. Eventually, peat turned into coal. Lucky for us, the Carboniferous period marked the origin of most coal reserves. <a href="https://earthhow.com/coal-formation/">Gigatons of coal laid down into the ground</a> which we consume every day.</p></div></div><div class="wp-block-group" style="padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained"> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Nutrient Cycle</h3> <p>The nutrient cycle is one of the many ways that our planet keeps itself alive. It constantly exchanges inorganic and organic matter back and forth in the environment.</p> <p>This intricate cycle plays a fundamental role in sustaining life on Earth, ensuring that essential elements and compounds are recycled, from the smallest microorganisms to the largest ecosystems.</p> <p>If you have any questions, use our comment section below to get in touch with one of us at EarthHow.</p></div></div><div class="newsletter1"><span style="color:#FFFFFF">Subscribe to our newsletter:</span> <div class="tnp tnp-subscription-minimal"><form action="https://earthhow.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?action=tnp&na=s" method="post" style="text-align: center"><input type="hidden" name="nr" value="minimal"> <input type="hidden" name="nlang" value=""> <input class="tnp-email" type="email" required name="ne" value="" placeholder="Email"><input class="tnp-submit" type="submit" value="Subscribe" style=""> </form></div></div><div class="kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id18718_0cb308-dd alignnone wp-block-kadence-rowlayout"><div class="kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-1-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top"> <div class="wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column18718_3e5fb2-fa kvs-sm-false kb-section-dir-horizontal"><div class="kt-inside-inner-col"><div class="wp-block-kadence-posts kb-posts kb-posts-id-18718_cbb5c8-cb content-wrap grid-cols kb-posts-style-unboxed grid-sm-col-2 grid-lg-col-3 item-image-style-above"><article class="entry content-bg loop-entry post-2624 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-life-science category-natural-environment tag-feature tag-guide mv-content-wrapper"> <a class="post-thumbnail kadence-thumbnail-ratio-2-3" href="https://earthhow.com/koppen-climate-classification/"> <div class="post-thumbnail-inner"> <img width="425" height="319" src="https://earthhow.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Koppen-Climate-Classification-1-425x319.png" class="attachment-medium_large 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sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px"/></a></div></div></div><div class="kt-blocks-post-grid-item-inner"><header><h6 class="entry-title"><a href="https://earthhow.com/human-timeline/">Human Timeline: How Long Have Humans Existed?</a></h6><div class="kt-blocks-post-top-meta"></div></header><div class="entry-content"></div><footer class="kt-blocks-post-footer"><div class="kt-blocks-post-footer-left"></div><div class="kt-blocks-post-footer-right"></div></footer></div></div></article></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></article> <div id="comments" class="comments-area"> <h2 class="comments-title">One Comment</h2> <ol class="comment-list"> <li id="comment-21435" class="comment even thread-even depth-1"> <article id="div-comment-21435" class="comment-body"> <footer class="comment-meta"> <div class="comment-author vcard"> <b class="fn">Ayemo Olayinka</b> <span class="says">says:</span></div><div class="comment-metadata"> <a href="https://earthhow.com/nutrient-cycle/#comment-21435"><time datetime="2023-05-23T05:27:44-06:00">May 23, 2023 at 5:27 am</time></a></div></footer> <div class="comment-content"> <p>How do microorganisms change materials to useful products in the cycling of nutrients?<br /> What is the importance of the products?<br /> What is the process involved in getting those products?</p></div></article> </li> </ol> <div id="respond" class="comment-respond"> <h3 id="reply-title" class="comment-reply-title">Leave a Reply</h3><form action="https://earthhow.com/wp-comments-post.php" method="post" id="commentform" class="comment-form" novalidate><p class="comment-notes"><span id="email-notes">Your email address will not be published.</span> <span class="required-field-message">Required fields are marked <span class="required">*</span></span></p><p class="comment-form-comment comment-form-float-label"><textarea autocomplete="new-password" id="i477054932" name="i477054932" placeholder="Leave a 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