What type of nutrients are typically less available to plants in acidic soils?

In acidic soils, micronutrients are typically less available to plants due to the higher concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) which can negatively affect the solubility and availability of certain nutrients. As soil pH decreases (becomes more acidic), some micronutrients, such as iron and manganese, may become more soluble and thus more available. However, other nutrients may become less available due to interactions with soil particles that can immobilize them.

Additionally, while macronutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium may also be affected by soil pH, they tend to have broader availability compared to micronutrients in various pH conditions, making them less sensitive to changes in acidity than the micronutrients. In highly acidic soils, specific micronutrients can reach toxic levels or become less available for plant uptake due to the chemical forms they exist in, thus complicating nutrient management in those environments.