Nutrient cycles are of two types:-

The correct answer is Option (3) → Gaseous and sedimentary

Nutrient cycling (biogeochemical cycles) is the movement of nutrient elements through the parts of an ecosystem. The cycles are named after the place where the nutrient’s reservoir lies.

Option (3) Gaseous and sedimentary — Correct. In the gaseous type (nitrogen, carbon) the reservoir is the atmosphere; in the sedimentary type (sulphur, phosphorus) it is the earth’s crust.

Note: This question is from the topic “Nutrient Cycling” in Chapter 14, Ecosystem, of the pre-rationalised NCERT book. This portion is not in the present NCERT book, where the chapter is now Chapter 12, Ecosystem. The extract below is from the pre-rationalised edition.

NCERT Extract (Pre-rationalised edition, Chapter 14, Ecosystem):
Nutrient Cycling – “… Nutrient cycles are of two types: (a) gaseous and (b) sedimentary. The reservoir for gaseous type of nutrient cycle (e.g., nitrogen, carbon cycle) exists in the atmosphere and for the sedimentary cycle (e.g., sulphur and phosphorus cycle), the reservoir is located in Earth’s crust.”