The Global Phosphorus Cycle

Abstract
Phosphorus (P) is a limiting nutrient for terrestrial biological productivity that commonly plays a key role in net carbon uptake in terrestrial ecosystems (Tiessen et al. 1984, Roberts et al. 1985, Lajtha and Schlesinger 1988). Unlike nitrogen (another limiting nutrient but one with an abundant atmospheric pool), the availability of “new” P in ecosystems is restricted by the rate of release of this element during soil weathering. Because of the limitations of P availability, P is generally recycled to various extents in ecosystems depending on climate, soil type, and ecosystem level. The release of P from...