Which nutrient is most likely to be deficient in sandy soils?

Sandy soils are characterized by their coarse texture and low water and nutrient retention capacity. They have larger particle sizes compared to clay or loam soils, which results in a quick drainage of moisture and nutrients. Among the essential nutrients, nitrogen is particularly susceptible to leaching due to this rapid drainage process.

This means that nitrogen, which is crucial for plant growth and development, can be easily washed away from the root zone before plants have the chance to absorb it, leading to deficiencies. In sandy soils, nitrogen can often be quickly utilized by plants but may not be replenished adequately due to its low retention rates.

While phosphorus, potassium, and calcium can also have associated deficiencies in different soil types, sandy soils typically do not retain these nutrients as well as clay soils, but nitrogen is the most depleted due to its high mobility in the soil environment. Therefore, nitrogen is the nutrient most likely to be deficient in sandy soils.