Question

Organic matter with a _______ ratio results in a low net release of nutrients during decomposition. This is because microbial growth is more limited by _______ than it is by _______. low C:N; energy; N supply high C:N; N supply; energy high C:H2O; water supply; energy low C:H2O; energy; water supply low N:H2O; N supply; water supply

Answer 1

high C:N; N supply; energy

Step-by-step explanation:

Nitrogen supply is required for microbial growth to synthesize nutrients such as amino acids and proteins. For a high C:N ratio, the amount of nitrogen supply is considerably small compared with the amount of carbon. As a result, a low amount of nutrients is released during decomposition.

In the given question, the organic matter with a __high C:N___ ratio results in a low net release of nutrients during decomposition. This is because microbial growth is more limited by __N supply____ than it is by __energy_____.