An ecologist investigated the rate of decomposition of two types of agricultural residue with different carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) ratios over a period of 16 weeks.
The initial dry mass of each residue sample placed in mesh litter bags was 80.0 g.
The table below shows the dry mass remaining over time.
| Time (weeks) | Dry mass of Residue A (g) | Dry mass of Residue B (g) |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 80.0 | 80.0 |
| 4 | 58.5 | 74.0 |
| 8 | 41.0 | 68.5 |
| 12 | 26.5 | 63.0 |
| 16 | 15.0 | 58.0 |
Compare the trends shown in the data for Residue A and Residue B.
