law of minimum

law of minimum

[′lȯ əv ′min·ə·məm] (biology) The law that those essential elements for which the ratio of supply to demand (A / N) reaches a minimum will be the first to be removed from the environment by life processes; it was proposed by J. von Liebig, who recognized phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium as minimum in the soil; in the ocean the corresponding elements are phosphorus, nitrogen, and silicon. Also known as Liebig's law of minimum.