| Carbon cycle | Phosphorus cycle |
| 1. Carbon cycle is a gaseous cycle. | 1. Phosphorus cycle is a sedimentary cycle. |
| 2. Carbon cycle has higher speed. | 2. Phosphorus cycle is very slow. |
| 3. There is respiratory release of CO2 in carbon cycle. | 3. There is no respiratory release of phosphorus. |
| 4. Atmospheric inputs of carbon through rainfall are larger. | 4. Atmospheric inputs of phosphorus through rainfall are much smaller. |
| 5. Exchanges of phosphorus between organism and environment are negligible in carbon cycle due to photosynthesis and respiration. | 5. Exchanges of phosphorus between organism and environment are negligible in phosphorus cycle. |
