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In ecology, the term biogeochemical cycle can be described as the cyclic movement of nutrients between the world’s biotic components and abiotic components. Every nutrient has its distinct biogeochemical cycle; this cyclic flow helps in maintaining the nutrient concentration at different ecosystem units.

The world consists of various life forms, and along with these, several non-living entities are also present. The life-forms of the world (both microscopic and macroscopic) are denoted as biotic components, while the non-living entities (such as soil, water, temperature) are denoted as abiotic components.

The biogeochemical cycle of different nutrients has a different pattern, but each cycle shares a common factor; that is, the nutrients always have a path back to their starting point, and it does not stay concentrated at any point.

A portion of the biogeochemical cycles of an atom of water, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus is given below in a simplified form to depict how these nutrients are cycled in nature.