Law of the Minimum

The Law of the Minimum, formulated by plant nutritionist Justus Von Liebig, states that the growth of a plant is determined by the nutrient that is in the shortest supply, rather than the total amount of nutrients available. In simpler terms, if a plant lacks even one essential nutrient, it will not reach its full potential, regardless of the presence of others. This principle is applicable beyond agriculture, suggesting that any system’s performance is constrained by its most limiting factor.