Nutrient Cycles

Question 1

general stages in the phosphorus cycle

Answer 1

1. weathering
2. runoff
3. assimilation
4. decomposition
5. uplift

Question 2

why is the phosphorus cycle a slow process

Answer 2

• phosphorus has no gas phase, so there is no atmospheric cycle
• most phosphorus is stored as PO4 3- in rocks

Question 3

what happens during weathering and run off

Answer 3

phosphate compounds from sedimentary rocks leach into surface water and soil

Question 4

explain the significance of phosphorus to living organisms

Answer 4

plants convert inorganic phosphate into biological molecules e.g. DNA, ATP, NADP

phosphorus is passed to consumers via feeding

Question 5

what happens during uplift

Answer 5

sedimentary layers from oceans (formed by the bodies of aquatic organisms) are brought up to land over many years

Question 6

how does mining affect the phosphorus cycle

Answer 6

speeds up uplift

Question 7

name the 4 main stages of nitrogen cycle

Answer 7

1. nitrogen fixation
2. ammonification
3. nitrification
4. denitrification

Question 8

why can’t organisms use nitrogen directly from the atmosphere

Answer 8

N2 is very stable due to strong covalent triple bond

Question 9

what happens during atmospheric fixation of nitrogen

Answer 9

1. high energy of lightning breaks N2 into N
2. N reacts with oxygen to form NO2 -
3. NO2 - dissolves in water to form NO3 -

Question 10

outline the role of bacteria in nitrogen fixation

Answer 10

mutualistic nitrogen-fixing bacteria in nodules of legumes and free-living bacteria in soil

use the enzyme nitrogenase to reduce gaseous nitrogen into ammonia

Question 11

outline the role of bacteria in ammonification

Answer 11

1. saprobionts feed on and decompose organic waste containing nitrogen
2. NH3 released
3. NH3 dissolves in water in soil to form NH4 +

Question 12

outline the role of bacteria in nitrification

Answer 12

2-step process carried out by saprobionts in aerobic conditions:

2NH4 + + 3O2 –> 2NO2 - + 2H2O + 4H+

2NO2 - + O2 –> 2NO3 -

Question 13

outline the role of bacteria in nitrification

Answer 13

2-step process carried out by saprobionts in aerobic conditions:

2NH4 + + 3O2 –> 2NO2 - + 2H2O + 4H+

2NO2 - + O2 –> 2NO3 -

Question 14

outline the role of bacteria in denitrification

Answer 14

anaerobic denitrifying bacteria convert soil nitrates back into gaseous nitrogen

Question 15

explain the significance of nitrogen to living organisms

Answer 15

plant roots uptake nitrates via active transport and use them to make biological compoubds e.g :
- amino acids
- NAD /NADP
- nucleic acids

Question 16

outline the role of mycorrhizae

Answer 16

mutualistic relationship between plant and fungus increases surface area of root system = increases uptake of water and mineral ions

Question 17

give 3 benefits of planting a different crop on the same field each year

Answer 17

• nitrogen-fixing crops e.g. legumes make soil more fertile by increasing soil nitrate content
• different crops have different pathogens
• different crops use different proportions of certain ions

Question 18

name the 2 categories of fertiliser and state the purpose of using fertiliser

Answer 18

• organic: decaying organic matter and animal waste
• inorganic minerals from rocks, usually containing nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium
• to increase gross productivity for higher yield

Question 19

at a certain point, using more fertiliser no longer increases crop yield

Answer 19

a factor unrelated to the concentration of mineral ions limits the rate of photosynthesis, so rate of growth cannot increase any further

Question 20

outline 2 main environmental issues caused by the use of fertilisers

Answer 20

1. leaching: nitrates dissolve in rainwater and ‘runoff’ into water sources
2. eutrophication: water source becomes putrid as a result of algal bloom

Question 21

what happens during eutrophication

Answer 21

1. aquatic plants grow exponentially since nitrate level is no longer a limiting factor
2. algal bloom on water surface prevents light from reaching the bottom and plants die
3. oxygen levels decrease as population of aerobic saprobionts increases to decay dead matter, so fish die
4. anaerobic organisms reproduce exponentially and produce toxic waste which makes water putrid

Question 22

how can the risk of eutrophication be reduced

Answer 22

• sewage treatment marshes on farms
• pumping nutrient-enriched sediment out of water
• using phosphate-free detergent