What are the factors affecting mineral absorption?

The factors affecting mineral absorption include: temperature, H+ ion, temperature, oxygen concentration, aging, ion interactions, and plant growth. 

• As temperature increases, the rate of mineral absorption increases as well. Very high temperatures however may lead to a cease in mineral absorption due to protein denaturation. Enzymes may also become inactivated at higher temperatures. 
• A decrease in the pH of a soil solution tends to enhance the absorption of anions by plants. In contrast, an increase in soil solution pH promotes the absorption of cations by plants. Extreme pH values however can damage plant tissues and restrict uptake of salts. 
• Mineral absorption in plants is influenced by the energy available for metabolic processes and the rate of transportation. 
• Light has a crucial role in regulating transportation and photosynthesis. Thus insufficient lights can hinder plants from effectively absorbing mineral ions. 
• Oxygen is another important factor, as a lack of oxygen causes mineral absorption to stop. Soil oxygen influences respiration and metabolic energy release. 
• Lastly, the uptake of certain ions can be influenced by uptake of other ions. For example, the absorption of potassium ions can be affected by the presence of calcium and magnesium ions, due to competition for binding sites.