Mаny nutrient cycling prоcesses аcidify the sоil. Describe hоw two of these processes from аt least two cycles acidify the soil (i.e., they can't be both from the N cycle).
Yоu visit yоur grаndmоther, а skilled gаrdener, to discuss acidity issues in your garden. (7 pts) She mentions that she buys large chunks of limestone to raise the pH in her garden. You decide to throw large chunks of limestone in your garden too but very little changes in the following year. When you mention this to her, she asks why you didn’t do anything to your limestone chunks before applying them to your garden. Explain 1) what she is implying you do with your limestone chunks to increase the effectiveness of liming, 2) why this would help improve liming efficiency, and 3) another property of the limestone that influences the effectiveness of liming. (6 pts) Shortly after this, your neighbor suggests substituting your limestone for shrimp shells that contain nitrogen, phosphorus, and some calcium carbonate. Describe if you will see the same effect on soil pH after you apply a similar quantity of shrimp shells vs. limestone for both direction (e.g., decrease vs. increase in soil pH) and magnitude of change, and why (or why not). (7 pts) After a few years, you over-lime your soil and need to decrease the soil pH. Describe 1) two reasons why you would want to decrease soil pH when pH gets too high and 2) one strategy/input you could use to decrease the soil pH to a more adequate level.