Question

Which of the following is a suitable example of sedimentary cycle?

• A. Carbon cycle
• B. Oxygen cycle
• C. Nitrogen cycle
• D. Phosphorous cycle

Hint:

To distinguish between cycle types, ask: "Where is the main reservoir of this element?" If the answer is "in the air," it's a gaseous cycle. If the answer is "in the rocks/soil," it's a sedimentary cycle. Phosphorus is the key example of a sedimentary cycle.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Nutrient cycles, also known as biogeochemical cycles, are categorized into two main types:1. Gaseous cycles: Nutrients primarily cycle through the atmosphere or hydrosphere (e.g., nitrogen, carbon, oxygen cycles).2. Sedimentary cycles: Nutrients primarily cycle through the lithosphere (soil and rocks) (e.g., phosphorus, sulfur, calcium cycles).

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
\[\begin{array}{rl} \bullet & \text{(A) Carbon cycle: Primarily stored in the atmosphere as CO\(_2\), classifying it as a gaseous cycle.} \\ \bullet & \text{(B) Oxygen cycle: Primarily stored in the atmosphere as O\(_2\), classifying it as a gaseous cycle.} \\ \bullet & \text{(C) Nitrogen cycle: Primarily stored in the atmosphere as N\(_2\), classifying it as a gaseous cycle.} \\ \bullet & \text{(D) Phosphorous cycle: Its primary reservoir is in rocks and marine sediments, released slowly through weathering. It lacks a significant gaseous component, making it a definitive sedimentary cycle.} \\ \end{array}\]

Step 4: Final Answer:
The Phosphorus cycle exemplifies a sedimentary cycle.