The biogeochemical cycle that describes the movement of phosphorus through rocks, water, soil, and living organisms. Unlike other cycles, it has no significant atmospheric component and moves primarily through weathering and erosion.
From Greek 'phosphoros' meaning 'light-bearing' (originally referring to the planet Venus) and 'cycle' from Greek 'kyklos' (circle). The element was named by its discoverer in 1669 for its glowing properties.
The phosphorus cycle is the slowest of all biogeochemical cycles, taking millions of years to complete! This is why phosphorus is often the limiting nutrient in ecosystems - once it's gone, you have to wait geological timescales for more to become available.
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