Trace elements in the soil - Soil Essentials: Managing Your Farm's Primary Asset - page 43

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Trace elements in the soil
What are trace elements?
Trace elements are essential plant and animal nutrients that are required in very
small quantities. They are often found in the soil in adequate quantities, but can
become depleted over time if not replaced, or become unavailable if soil pH shifts
too far either side of neutral. Trace elements can also become toxic if too much is
present in the soil and available to plants. This can be caused by soil pH becoming
too acid or too alkaline.
Why are they important?
Trace elements are required in the correct amounts by plants and animals for
healthy growth. They are usually required as part of cell formation, or are involved
in the regulation of plant and animal growth. Without them, these chemical
processes do not function properly, leading to poor growth and increased
susceptibility to disease.
Soil biological processes are also dependent on trace elements being available
in the correct amounts for their growth, and if they are not available this can lower
soil fertility, even when all other aspects of soil fertility are optimal.