The Phosphorus Cycle

• Phosphorus exists mainly as phosphate ions in the form of sedimentary rock deposits
• Weathering and erosion of rocks allows phosphate ions to be dissolved, which makes them easier for plants to absorb
• Phosphorus in saprobionts leads to the formation of sediment and so the phosphorus ends up residing in rocks
• Mycorrhizae

  • type of fungi that grows around the roots of plants
  • assists plants with the uptake of water and inorganic ions
  • have a mutualistic relationship with the plant - both gain a nutritional advantage
  • contain hyphae which grow on and around the root tissue, increasing the surface area for water and mineral uptake
  • hyphae also secrete enzymes that hydrolyse biological molecules in leaf litter