An environmental scientist is investigating how soil quality factors affect alpine vegetation growth. The researcher conducted a field study to investigate the relationship between the concentration of a specific nitrogen-fixing micro-nutrient in the soil and the annual biomass yield of the alpine perennial plant Saxifraga oppositifolia.
The researcher selected an opportunistic sample of 10 distinct plots of equal size from a mountain reserve. For each plot, the soil concentration of the nitrogen-fixing compound (measured in parts per million, ppm) was recorded, alongside the total dry annual biomass yield of the plant (measured in grams per square metre, g/m^2).
The raw data collected in the study are shown in Table 1 below.
Table 1: Soil micro-nutrient concentration and annual biomass yield of Saxifraga oppositifolia across 10 sample plots
| Plot | Soil concentration (ppm) | Annual biomass yield (g/m^2) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 112 |
| 2 | 22 | 380 |
| 3 | 11 | 210 |
| 4 | 8 | 155 |
| 5 | 15 | 290 |
| 6 | 3 | 85 |
| 7 | 18 | 335 |
| 8 | 13 | 245 |
| 9 | 25 | 410 |
| 10 | 6 | 130 |
Based on the data provided in Table 1, identify the relationship shown. Explain your answer.
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