Phosphorus - one of the most important chemical elements involved in the development of living organisms.It is part of the protoplasm, and the majority of animal and plant proteins.Man phosphorus is essential for the full development of organs and tissues, as well as to ensure the normal functioning of the brain.No wonder academician Fersman named it part of life and thought.
phosphorus cycle in the biosphere is composed of several main parts - it rocks, soil, plants and animal organisms.The source of most phosphorus containing compounds in nature is a mineral apatite, which includes 5 to 36% phosphorous oxide.Apatite crystals found in igneous rocks and places them in contact with sedimentary.Significant reserves of this mineral is found in Brazil and Norway, and is the largest field in the Khibiny (Kola Peninsula).
during weathering, which occurs under the influence of atmospheric conditions, soil acids of living organisms, apatite destroyed and involved in biochemical cycling of phosphorus, covering bio-, hydro- and lithosphere.
Plants absorb the dissolved phosphate anions from phosphoric acid and accumulate element mainly in the generative organs - fruits and seeds.Different parts of plants used for food animals and humans, and the phosphorus cycle continues.
In any living organism is constantly occurring physiological processes associated with splitting, synthesis and chemical transformations of other phosphorus-containing compounds.In mammals, this item is contained in the blood proteins, milk, nerve, bone and brain tissue.Also present in the nucleic acids - the compounds involved in the transmission of genetic information.After the death of living organisms closes the cycle of phosphorus - an element back into the lithosphere, dropping out of the biochemical cycle.Under certain conditions (for example, a sharp change in climatic conditions, with fluctuations in salinity, temperature, acidity, etc.) Is a mass death of organisms and the accumulation of debris on the seabed.As a result, the formation of new deposits of phosphorus-containing rocks of sedimentary origin (eg, phosphate).Eventually organogenic rocks - bioliths - become a new source of this element in the biogenic cycle.
As in all cycles of substances in nature, this process vigorously intervenes people.Phosphorus and its compounds are used in metallurgy, chemical industry, in the manufacture of detergents, matches and pharmaceuticals.But the main consumer of phosphates is agriculture.This element is necessary for the plants to full flowering and fruiting, it increases the hardiness and participates in the development of the root system.But the cultivated soil phosphorus supply is gradually depleted, and therefore there is the need for fertilizers, which are used for the production of all the same apatite and phosphorite.
Thus, the cycle of phosphorus include new units of human nature - industry and agriculture.Human activities aimed at increasing the concentration of this element in the environment.This phenomenon, called by scientists phosphatization land is due to catch seafood production and phosphorus minerals with subsequent use in various sectors of agriculture.Phosphatization develops most intensively industrialized areas of high population density.In sparsely populated areas and in the areas of production of apatite and phosphorite observed, on the contrary, defosfatizatsiya.
