When one of these nutrients is missing or in short supply, it is considered a limiting nutrient. Phosphorous and nitrogen are usually limiting nutrients because plants require large amounts of them on a daily basis. A soil nutrient in limited supply results in stunted growth or a lower number of plants in an ecosystem.
Answer: Since nutrients are needed to build life tissues and carry out essential life functions, a limiting nutrient (scarce nutrient) will limit organisms' growth in an ecosystem.
