Nutritional imbalances and constraints to plant growth on acid soils

The major causes of the development of strongly acid soil profiles in agricultural areas are outlined as nitrification, sulfur oxidation, and differential ion uptake by legumes, each in concert with soil‐profile leaching. The solubilities of soil minerals that determine soil‐solution levels of Al, Mn, and Mo are shown to be highly pH dependent. The chemical factors of the acid‐soil infertility factors are shown to be H toxicity, Al toxicity, Mn toxicity, Ca deficiency, and Mo deficiency. Soil pH predictor of toxic or deficient levels of soil‐solution Ions because soils vary widely in solid‐phase components that control solution ion concentrations.