Question

Which 2 macronutrients most frequently serve as the limiting nutrient for plant growth in an ecosystem? is it different for terrestrial vs. aquatic ecosystems?

Answer 1

Phosphorus and nitrogen are the biggest limiting nutrients in both ecosystems. There are species that fix nitrogen in both, for example, legumes fix nitrogen in terrestrial ecosystems and cyanobacteria fix nitrogen in aquatic systems. But too much of a good thing can be harmful, the phosphorus that comes from runoff from terrestrial ecosystems can destroy aquatic ecosystems.