Limiting nutrient

A limiting nutrient is a chemical necessary for plant growth, but available in quantities smaller than needed for algae and macrophytes to increase their abundance. Once the limiting nutrient in a waterbody is exhausted, algae stop growing. If more of the limiting nutrient is added, larger algal populations will result until their growth is again limited by nutrients or by limiting environmental factors.

In Florida waterbodies, nitrogen and phosphorus are most often the limiting nutrients. Aquatic plants may not respond as directly to nutrient limitation in the water as do algae because many of these plants can also take their required nutrients from the bottom sediments, through their roots, as well as from the open water.

In most freshwater lakes in Florida, the limiting nutrient is believed to be phosphorous. However, in watersheds where soils contain sizeable deposits of phosphorous, nitrogen will usually be the limiting nutrient. Nitrogen may be the limiting nutrient in some saltwater systems. Less commonly, silica can be the limiting nutrient in some waters. Trace nutrients (like molybdenum and zinc) that are necessary for the growth of plants and algae may also be in limited supply in some circumstances.

The information on this page was derived in part from the following publication of
Florida Lakewatch of the University of Florida Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences.
This booklet may be downloaded in its entirety as a PDF file by clicking here.
Scroll down till you see the Circular 101 icon.

Vic Ramey is the editor.

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A collaboration of the Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants, University of Florida, and the Invasive Plant Management Section of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.