Nutrient Cycles

Based on the replacement period, a nutrient cycle is referred to as Perfect or Imperfect cycle:

• A perfect nutrient cycle is one in which nutrients are replaced as fast as they are utilized. Most gaseous cycle are generally considered as perfect cycles.
• In contrast sedimentary cycles are considered relatively imperfect, as some nutrients are lost from the cycle and get locked into sediments and so become unavailable for immediate cycling.

Based on the nature of the reservoir, there are two types of cycles namely:

Gaseous Cycle — where the reservoir is the atmosphere or the hydrosphere — water cycle, carbon cycle, nitrogen ....