I've been reading quite a bit the past few days regarding cations and anions and how the process takes place in soil. I haven't found a specific article that shows how each specific element is taken up and what it gives in return when said element is used by the plant. Im also a bit confused when I keep reading that base cations (calcium, magnesium, potassium), neutralize the H+ ions that the plant releases? How do they neutralize the H+ ions when they themselves are cations (positively charged). I thought it would take a negatively charged anion to neutralize the H+ cation. For example, my understanding is that when the plant takes up an anion, like nitrates, it gives the soil back a negative H ion (hydroxide), which in turn will cancel out the H+ ions in the soil, but plants mostly give back H+ ions since they mostly feed on cations, which is why most soils turn acidic as the grow progresses, they use up all the base cations in the soil and eventually it gets concentrated with too many H+ ions, which is why cal-mag seems to fix so many issues. Its not that the plant 'needs' the calcium or magnesium, rather the soil needs base cations to neutralize the excess H+ ions, thus allowing the plant to continue its feeding process? Am in the ballpark with all this? If anyone can point me to an article that specifies in great detail how each element is treated by the plant, it would be greatly appreciated! Ive read dozens of posts this weekend, and feel I have an understanding, but im missing a few things to make complete sense of it