Vol. 43

Title:
Using "Limiting Factors" to Design and Manage Propagation Environments

Author:
Thomas D. Landis

pp: 213-218

Abstract:
THE PRINCIPLE OF LIMITING FACTORS

One of the basic concepts of ecology is called the principle of limiting factors which states that, when a process is governed by several factors, its rate is limited by the factor that is closest to the minimum requirement (Odum, 1971). Conceptually, the idea of limiting factors can be visualized with the wooden barrel analogy which Whitcomb (1988) used to explain mineral nutrient deficiencies. Plant growth is represented by the water in the barrel which is constructed of wooden staves, each representing a different limiting factor (Fig. 1). The water level (plant growth rate) at any one time or location is limited by the height of the shortest stave (limiting factor) in the barrel.

If we expand this concept to nursery design and management, we can identify those environmental factors that are potentially limiting to plant growth. The main factors of the atmospheric environment are light, temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide and the two principal

Full text: IPPS members     ISHS members & pay-per-view
(PDF 452543 bytes)

Translate:

           

IPPS membership administration       ISHS membership administration