What other factor, apart from a deficiency of nutrients, can cause micronutrient deficiencies in plants?

Soil pH plays a critical role in the availability of micronutrients to plants. Micronutrients, such as iron, manganese, zinc, and copper, require specific pH conditions to be accessible for plant uptake. When the pH of the soil is too high (alkaline) or too low (acidic), these micronutrients can become less soluble and thus less available to plants, leading to deficiencies despite their presence in the soil.

For example, in highly alkaline soils, iron may become locked in forms that plants cannot utilize, resulting in chlorosis or other deficiency symptoms. On the other hand, very acidic soils can lead to leaching or fixation of certain nutrients, also contributing to deficiencies.

Other factors, such as soil temperature, soil texture, and water content, can indeed influence overall plant health and nutrient uptake, yet their direct relationship with the availability of micronutrients is not as critical as that of soil pH. Soil texture can affect drainage and aeration, while temperature and moisture impact plant metabolism and root activity, but they do not dictate the chemical forms of nutrients as directly as pH does. Thus, maintaining an optimal soil pH is essential for preventing micronutrient deficiencies in plants.