What is the redfield ratio?

The Redfield ratio was proposed by the oceanographer Alfred C. Redfield in 1934 as a way to describe the relative proportions of nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon in marine plankton and algae. The ratio states that in most marine environments, the atomic ratio of carbon to nitrogen to phosphorus is roughly 106:16:1. This means that for every 106 atoms of carbon, there are 16 atoms of nitrogen and 1 atom of phosphorus.

The Redfield ratio has been used to study the nutrient limitations of marine ecosystems, as changes in the ratio can affect primary productivity and nutrient cycling. In addition, it has been applied to the study of terrestrial ecosystems and is often used as a basic guideline for fertilization practices in agriculture.

However, the use of the Redfield ratio has been criticized as being overly simplistic and not accounting for the complexity of nutrient interactions in natural ecosystems. Some studies have suggested that the ratio may vary depending on the specific environment and the types of organisms present.