Under which conditions are nutrients less accessible to turfgrass plants?

Nutrients are less accessible to turfgrass plants when the soil conditions are too acidic or too alkaline because the pH level of the soil affects nutrient availability. Each nutrient has an optimal pH range for solubility and uptake by plant roots. In highly acidic soils (low pH), essential nutrients like phosphorus can become less available, and toxic elements may become more soluble, potentially harming the plant. Conversely, in alkaline soils (high pH), other nutrients, such as iron and manganese, may become less soluble and therefore less accessible to the plants.

In contrast, sandy soil with high moisture can actually facilitate better nutrient movement and retention, while soil with high organic matter typically enhances nutrient availability due to the presence of decomposed materials that release nutrients into the soil. Sandy soil with low nutrients may indeed have limited nutrient availability, but this is not as directly tied to the chemical balance of the soil as the pH levels are.