Consumed
phosphate
in plant biomass
Is excreted
Plants
use phosphate –
converted into
organic biomass
Phosphate in Soil
Large organisms
Consume
microbes and
excrete
phosphate
Micro- fauna/flora
Consume
phosphate
Dissolved Phosphate
Excreted
phosphate from
natural land
cycle
enters water
Fertilizer
Agriculture
Fertilizer run-off
Mining of
Phosphate
rock
Sediments from water
form phosphate rock – over
millions of rock
Large organisms
Consume
microbes and
excrete
phosphate
Micro- fauna/flora
Consume
phosphate
Dissolved Phosphate
Excreted phosphate
from natural land cycle
enters water