Excessive soil moisture generally _______ nutrient uptake.

Excessive soil moisture generally decreases nutrient uptake in plants. When soil moisture levels are too high, it can lead to waterlogged conditions that saturate soil pores, reducing the availability of oxygen to plant roots. This lack of oxygen can inhibit root respiration and reduce the efficiency at which roots can absorb nutrients from the soil.

Additionally, when soils are overly saturated, nutrient leaching can occur, where essential nutrients may be washed away from the root zone before plants can take them up. Specific nutrients, particularly nitrogen, can be lost through leaching more readily under excessive moisture conditions. Therefore, while plants require water for nutrient uptake, too much water can negatively affect their ability to absorb those nutrients efficiently, leading to deficiencies and poor plant growth.