The nutrient cycle is a system where energy and matter are transferred between living organisms and non-living parts of the environment. This occurs as animals and plants consume nutrients found in the soil, and these nutrients are then released back into the environment via death and decomposition.

The rainforest nutrient cycling is rapid. The hot, damp conditions on the forest floor allow for the rapid decomposition of dead plant material. This provides plentiful nutrients that are easily absorbed by plant roots.

Most rainforests are structured in four layers: emergent, canopy, understory, and forest floor.

In the rainforest, most of the carbon and essential nutrients are locked up in the living vegetation, dead wood, and decaying leaves. As organic material decays, it is recycled so quickly that few nutrients ever reach the soil, leaving it nearly sterile.

The nutrient cycle describes how nutrients are transferred around an ecosystem. It has 3 stores: li&er, soil and biomass.

Nutrient cycles restore ecosystems to the equilibrium state, and therefore play an important role in keeping the ecosystem functioning. All organisms, living and non-living depend on one another. Nutrient cycles link living organisms with non-living organisms through the flow of nutrients.

Nutrient cycling is one of the most important processes that occur in an ecosystem. The nutrient cycle describes the use, movement, and recycling of nutrients in the environment. Elements such as carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen are recycled through abiotic environments including the atmosphere, water, and soil.

Humans affect the phosphorus cycle mainly by the use of fertilizers and raising livestock, especially hogs. Fertilizers and hog waste are high in phosphorus, which makes its way into the soil (where it is necessary in moderate amounts) and, due to runoff, in water.

Phosphorus cycling Phosphates move quickly through plants and animals; however, the processes that move them through the soil or ocean are very slow, making the phosphorus cycle overall one of the slowest biogeochemical cycles.

The two cycles include two different elements. The other large difference between these two cycles is that carbon cycles through the atmosphere whereas phosphorus does not . The phosphorous cycle is also slower than the carbon cycle.