Redfield Ratio Problem
Q. A given part of the ocean has concentrations of nutrients as follows:
- 42,400 mg/cubic meter Carbon
- 2,400 mg/cubic meter Nitrogen
- 300 mg/cubic meter Phosphorus
Given the Redfield ratio of 106 C : 16 N : 1 P, which of these nutrients is the limiting one?
A. To figure this out, we divide each value by its Redfield ratio number. This will give us the number of "units" of organic matter we can build with each nutrient:
- 42,400 C / 106 C = 400
- 2,400 N / 16 N = 150
- 300 P / 1 P = 300
Nitrogen has the lowest number here, so it will run out before the others. Phosphorus is the second-most limiting, and there is plenty of carbon.