STUDENT NAME - SHIPRA AGRAWAL

CLASS IX
CONTENTS
 BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES
 THE WATER CYCLE
 THE NITROGEN CYCLE
 THE CARBON CYCLE
 THE OXYGEN CYCLE
 CONCLUSION
BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES
 These refers to the cyclic flow of nutrients between non –
living components (such as soil, rock, air, water) and living
organisms, which make the biosphere dynamic, yet a stable
system.
 Such cyclic flows involves the transfer of matter and energy
between different components of the biosphere.
 There are four biogeochemical cycles present in nature:
 1. The water cycle
 2. The carbon cycle
 3. The nitrogen cycle
 4. The oxygen cycle
The water cycle
The constant exchange
of water between air,
land, ocean, and the
living organisms. The
whole process by
which water
evaporates and falls on
land as rain and later
flows back into sea via
rivers is known as
water cycle.
THE NITROGEN
CYCLE.
 Nitrogen cycle involves the following
The cyclic process by steps:
which nitrogen passes  Nitrogen fixation : In this process the
from its elemental form atmospheric nitrogen is converted to
present in the nitrogen compounds by nitrogen fixing
bacteria & lightning.
atmosphere into simple
 Nitrogen assimilation : it is done by
nitrogenous plants they absorb nitrates and nitrites to
compounds present in make proteins and amino acids. Animals
the soil and water that can take organic nitrogen from plants
directly or indirectly.
can enter the living  Ammonification : it is the process of
beings and forms production of ammonia. It occurs by
complex molecules in decomposition of dead plants and
them. animals.
• Nitrification : It is the process of conversion of ammonia in nitrates or
nitrites.
• Denitrification : It is the process in which nitrates or or mitrites are are back
into atmosphere.
THE CARBON
CYCLE
Carbon is found in various
forms on earth. It occurs in
elemental form as diamond
and graphite.
In the combined state, it is
found as :
Carbon dioxide
Carbonate and Hydrogen
carbonate salts
Fossil fuels like coal,
petroleum, CNG.
Carbon containing
molecules like fats, etc.
Endoskeletons and
exoskeletons of various
animals.
 Carbon is incorporated in life forms through
plants by photosynthesis.
 In this process, carbon dioxide is transformed
into simple carbohydrates as glucose.
 These glucose molecules provide energy for the
synthesis of other biologically important
molecules or get converted into other
substances like starch or cellulose.
 Respiration is the process of obtaining energy
from glucose. It releases carbon dioxide back
into the atmosphere.
 The other processes that give out carbon
dioxide into atmosphere are :
 Decomposition of organic wastes and dead
bodies by decomposers.
 Burning of fossil fuels on large scale.
 Weathering of rocks and volcanic eruptions.
1. The percentage of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is doubled, since the industrial
revolution.
2. Carbon dioxide is one of the greenhouse gases. Increase in the carbon dioxide content in
the atmosphere would cause more heat to be retained by the atmosphere which leads to
global warming.
The oxygen
cycle
The oxygen cycle maintains
the level of oxygen in the
atmosphere.
Oxygen from the
atmosphere is used up in the
process of combustion,
respiration and in the
formation of nitrogen oxides.
Photosynthesis, is the only
major process by which
oxygen is returned to the
atmosphere. Therefore,
green plants are the major
source of the oxygen in the
atmosphere.
 Oxygen is an abundant element forming
about 20.95% = 21% of the atmospheric
gases. It is an essential component of most
biological molecules like carbohydrate,
proteins, nucleic acids and fats.
 In earth’s crust, it is found as oxides of
many metals and also as carbonate,
sulphate, nitrate and other minerals. It is
present in combined form also as in
carbon dioxide and as in water also.
 Note – Some forms of life especially
bacteria are poisoned by elemental
oxygen. Even the process of nitrogen –
fixation by bacteria does not take place in
the presence of oxygen.
The cyclic flow of oxygen occurs through different forms like water, carbon dioxide,
and by various processes, as given above.