ABSTRACT
Environmental variables, such as soil pH, are known to be related to the distribution and the diversity of plant species within terrestrial ecosystems. In fact, soil acidity is a determining factor of the availability of nutrients to the plants. Soil pH influences microbial processes (e.g., mineralization, nitrification, and decomposition of organic matter), resulting in differences in the form and availability of inorganic nitrogen. Furthermore, soil pH affects the availability of phosphorus, potassium, and other macronutrients. The concentrations of potential phytotoxic metals (e.g., aluminum, zinc, iron, and cadmium) are also dependent on the soil pH [1-4].
