Theory 69/Ecosystem/Nutrient cycling
Cycling Is Decomposition Against Uptake
The claim
Nutrient cycling rate is set by the ratio of decomposition to plant uptake, so a system with fast decomposition and slow uptake leaks nutrients.
01Mechanism
Decomposition releases nutrients that plants capture; when release outpaces capture, the surplus is lost to leaching.
02Prediction
Retention should track the ratio.
03Refutation
Retention tracking uptake alone would remove decomposition.