What happens to phosphorus during decomposition?

During the decomposition process, phosphorus is primarily released from organic matter and becomes available for absorption by soil and plants. Decomposers, such as bacteria and fungi, break down dead plant and animal material, leading to the release of nutrients, including phosphorus, into the surrounding environment. Once in the soil, phosphorus becomes part of the nutrient cycle, where plants can absorb it for use in various biological functions, such as energy transfer and the formation of DNA and RNA.

Phosphorus does not typically exist in a gaseous form at normal environmental conditions, which is why it is not released into the atmosphere or converted to gas during decomposition. Additionally, while phosphorus does indeed form part of organic molecules, the correct focus here is on its release into the soil for uptake by plants, emphasizing its role as a vital nutrient in the ecosystem following decomposition.