How do plants handle nutrients?
Nearly all plant nutrients are taken up in ionic form. Plants release one or more hydrogen cations in exchange for nutrient cations (such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, etc.), depending on the valence of the cation being adsorbed. Nutrient cations are taken from soil solution or directly from clay or humus particles. Plants release bicarbonate anions in exchange for nutrient anions. The principal storage of anions occurs in the soil organic matter and is subsequently made available by micro-organisms.
