Phosphorus and Silica Cycles

The cycling of the element Ccirbon depends primarily on its chemical properties. Like nitrogen and sulfur, but unlike phosphorus, silica, and iron, carbon forms volatile, soluble, and insoluble compounds and can thus circulate through the atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere. Since carbon is the basic element of life its circulation through the biosphere is of particular importance. 

In this section, we introduce the basic biogeochemical cycles of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, silica and iodine (Fig. 2.2). It is important to remember that... 

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