A Single Framework for the Pedagogy of Nutrient Cycling.

Soil nutrient cycling diagrams are ubiquitous. They range from simple to terrifyingly complex, and usually become familiar through 'brute force' memorization. Because there are so many versions for any cycle, students or teachers may be at a loss of which one to use. Here, a single framework for the presentation of common nutrient cycles (N,C,S,Fe) is presented. The advantage of a single framework is that once core ideas are understood they can be applied to any nutrient cycle, increasing memorability and ease of making connections between cycles and across landscapes.The nature of the framework lends itself to undergraduate, or even high school courses, and interfaces well with the factors and processes of soil formation.