Phosphorus Cycling, Speciation and Determination - Coursework Example

Several mechanisms through which plants take up phosphorus from soils are explored. The bio-availability and natural abundance of phosphorus, as well as the uptake and utilization of phosphorus by plants, are discussed. The procedures for the extraction, determination, and identification of phosphorus species are also outlined.Phosphorus is one of the essential elements of living organisms. It performs a vital function in the cell’s biochemical and physiological processes. Hence, phosphorus is an integral component of biomolecules like polysaccharides, phospholipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

Phosphorus occurs in the natural environment, predominantly as a product of weathering, at low concentrations (Childers et al., 2011). Thus, phosphorus acts as a limiting nutrient; a species that inhibits the production of certain substances in specific geochemical cycles. It is tightly cycled in organisms, plants, and various ecosystems (Sommers, 2008). The dynamics and speciation of phosphorus in the natural environment can be best understood through the phosphorus’ redox fate in nature’s cycles.

This paper explores the speciation and fate of phosphorus in the natural environment, particularly in plant’s internal transport.Unlike nitrogen and carbon cycles, the phosphorus cycle lacks any atmospheric components (Alez, 2012). Rocks and minerals are the primary sources of phosphorus in nature. Phosphorus deposits can be found in apatite, bird droppings, and fossilized bones. It is gradually released through weathering and erosion as a phosphate ion, which is a water-soluble form of phosphorus.

Plants absorb phosphorus from soils either in the form of hydrogen phosphate (HPO22-) at pH above 7 or as dihydrogen phosphate (H2PO4-) at pH below 7 (Enger, Ross, & Bailey, 2007). Once absorbed by plants, phosphates are incorporated into biomolecules such, as adenosine triphosphate (ATP), nucleic acids, and phospholipids.