Nutrient cycles in the ecosystem

1. The cycles in nature maintain a balance in the ecosystem, which ensure that all living things are able to live and grow.
2. Recycling is important because natural resources are limited.
3. Organisms that feed on dead plants and animals are called decomposers. Decomposers play a major role in recycling.
4. Circulation of carbon through and ecosystem is called the carbon cycle.
5. The only process, which removes carbon from the atmosphere, is photosynthesis. Carbon is added to the atmosphere during respiration by living things and due to decomposition of dead and decayed matter.
6. The continuous cycle through which nitrogen in the form of nitrogenous compounds is removed from the soil and returned to it is called the nitrogen cycle.
7. Nitrogen is removed from the soil due to absorption of nitrogenous compounds by the roots of the plants and by the action of denitrifying bacteria.
8. Nitrogen is returned to the soil by the process of nitrogen fixation by root nodules of leguminous plants, by the action of certain free living bacteria and by the decomposition of plant./animal wastes by certain bacteria.
9. Addition of fertilizers increase the nitrogen content of the soil.
10. Carbon and nitrogen cycles are important because, carbon forms a part of carbohydrates, proteins and fats; while nitrogen forms a part of proteins, which are used to build tissues in living things.