An investigation was carried out to study how soil pH affects the rate of decomposition of cellulose. Standardised cotton strips were buried in soils of different pH levels, and the percentage mass loss of the strips was measured after 30 days.
| Soil pH | Mass loss of cotton strips (%) |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 5 |
| 5.0 | 12 |
| 6.0 | 24 |
| 7.0 | 45 |
| 8.0 | 68 |
State the effect of soil pH on the rate of cellulose decomposition from pH 4.0 to pH 8.0.
