Planting & SoilQuestion 37 of 100
A soil amendment high in nitrogen but low in decomposition, like fresh wood chips tilled into soil, can cause what short-term problem?
a.Excess nitrogen burning plants
b.Temporary nitrogen deficiency (nitrogen drawdown)
c.A large rise in pH
d.Immediate salt toxicity
Explanation
When high-carbon materials like fresh wood chips are mixed into soil, microbes decomposing them consume available nitrogen, temporarily starving plants of it. This nitrogen drawdown causes yellowing until decomposition slows. Using wood chips as surface mulch instead of tilling them in avoids the problem.
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