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Question
What is the law of limiting factors ? Explain it with an illustration.
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Solution
In 1905, Blackman gave the Law of Limiting factors. When several factors affect any biochemical process, then this law comes into effect. This states that:If a chemical process is affected by more than one factor, then its rate will be determined by the factor which is nearest to its minimal value. It is the factor which directly affects the process if this quantity is changed.To illustrate the law, suppose light intensity supplied to a leaf is just sufficient to utilize 5 mg of CO2 per hour in photosynthesis. As the CO2 supply is increased, the rate also increases to 5 mg of CO2 enters the leaf per hour. After that, any further increase in the supply of CO2 does not have any effect on the rate. Light has now become the limiting factor and further increase in the rate of photosynthesis will occur only by increasing the intensity of light.
If a chemical process is affected by more than one factor, then its rate will be determined by the factor which is nearest to its minimal value. It is the factor which directly affects the process if this quantity is changed.
To illustrate the law, suppose light intensity supplied to a leaf is just sufficient to utilize 5 mg of CO2 per hour in photosynthesis. As the CO2 supply is increased, the rate also increases to 5 mg of CO2 enters the leaf per hour. After that, any further increase in the supply of CO2 does not have any effect on the rate. Light has now become the limiting factor and further increase in the rate of photosynthesis will occur only by increasing the intensity of light.
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