What are the Disadvantages of Alkaline Soils
As most of the plants can assimilate nitrogen in its nitrate form, and oxidation of ammonium fertilizer can take place only in acidic medium, nitrogen will not be available to plants in alkaline medium. All metal ions get precipitated as hydroxides and are not available as nutrients to the plants. Phosphates also get precipitated and are not available as nutrients. In other words growth of plants is retarded in alkaline medium.