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Preferred term

nutrient cycles  

Definition

  • Nutrient cycles describe the cycling in terrestrial, limnic, or marine ecosystems and in compartments of these ecosystems of those elements and chemical compounds that are essential for maintaining life. The essential elements include the macronutrients (nitrogen [N], potassium [K], calcium [Ca], magnesium [Mg], phosphorus [P], and sulfur [S]—ordered in the sequence of the mass contributions of these elements to dry shoot matter of higher plants according to Marschner, 1995) and the micronutrients (chlorine [Cl], boron [B], iron [Fe], manganese [Mn], zinc [Zn], copper [Cu], nickel [Ni], and molybdenum [Mo]). [Source: Encyclopedia of Geography; Nutrient Cycles]

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URI

https://concepts.sagepub.com/social-science/concept/nutrient_cycles

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