A group of students carried out an experiment to investigate the decay of leaves in garden soil. They placed leaves into bags with different mesh sizes, sealed the bags, and then buried them. Every month for 5 months, the bags were dug out and the overall percentage decrease in mass from the beginning of the experiment was worked out. The results are shown. What can the students conclude from these results?
- ADecay is dependent on access to oxygen for the decomposers.
- BThe larger the mesh size the faster the rate of decay.
- CDecay depends on how much water can get to the leaves.
- DNutrients diffuse away from the leaves more easily when mesh size increases.