Question

How is the phosphorus cycle different from the oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon cycles?

Answer 1

The answer is D. The cycle only involves the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere, with no role in the atmosphere. The reason the atmosphere is not involved in that at the natural temperature and pressure of the environment, phosphorus and its compounds are usually in solid or ionic (usually phosphate ion) form. It is also a very slow nutrient cycle, with a major source of the nutrient being determined by tectonic activity that upwells the nutrients from deep in their earth’s core through volcanic activity.

Answer 2

I think the correct answer from the choices listed above is option D. The phosphorus cycle is different from the oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon cycles in a sense that it does not involve the atmosphere. The cycle only involves the Earth's surface. Hope this answers the question.