Phosphorus limiting nutrient

Nitrogen versus phosphorus—Limiting nutrient controversy 694... 

A shortage of any of some two dozen chemical elements that are essential for the growth of organisms can reduce ecosystem productivity, but phosphorus and nitrogen are often the most limiting nutrients, which is why these two elements are standard components of commercial fertilizers. Phosphorus is often limiting because it moves through soil pores and aquatic... 

C04-0153. Phosphorus is essential for plant growth, and it is often the limiting nutrient in aqueous ecosystems. 

Although nitrogen Is probably limiting to some extent In most natural systems. It Is not the major limiting nutrient In all of them, and Is not limiting to the same extent at all times of the year. In large areas of Australia for example, phosphorus Is the principle limiting element (24). 

Mehlich-extractable P decline to barely detectable levels below 50 cm depth. Phosphorus is most likely a limiting nutrient for plant growth in those ecosystems. 

Over the last three decades, we have moved from the monoHthic view that nitrogen is the primary limiting nutrient for phytoplankton in the world s oceans (e.g., Thomas, 1966 Ryther and Dunstan, 1971), to the recognition that iron, silicon or phosphorus may at times be in shortest supply. Further, it is recognized that separate groups with distinct biogeochemical functions exist within the phytoplankton that may concur-rendy exhibit limitation by different nutrient factors (Dugdale and Wilkerson, 1998). 

Krom, M. D., Herut, B., and Mantoura, R. F. C. (2004). Nutrient budget for the Eastern Mediterranean Implications for phosphorus limitations. Limnol. Oceanogr. 49, 1582-1592. 

Lamed, S. T. (1998). Nitrogen- versus phosphorus-limited growth and sources of nutrients for coral reef macroalgae. Mar. Biol. 132, 409-421. 

Phosphorus versus nitrogen as proximate and ultimate limiting nutrients... 

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