What happens to water-soluble inorganic nutrients during the process of leaching?

They get precipitated as salts.

The correct answer is a) They get precipitated as salts.

During the process of leaching, water-soluble inorganic nutrients present in the detritus or soil solution move downward through the soil profile with the percolating water. As the water moves through the soil, it carries the dissolved inorganic nutrients along with it. However, when the water reaches a lower soil horizon, where the conditions are different, such as changes in temperature, pH, or nutrient concentration, these water-soluble inorganic nutrients can undergo chemical reactions.

One common outcome is the precipitation of these inorganic nutrients as salts. Precipitation occurs when the solubility of the nutrients decreases due to changes in environmental conditions. The nutrients can combine with other elements in the soil, forming insoluble compounds or salts that are not readily available for uptake by plants or other organisms. These precipitated salts may accumulate in the lower soil horizons or even be lost from the system through groundwater flow.

It's important to note that leaching primarily refers to the downward movement of water and dissolved substances, including nutrients, through the soil. The fate of water-soluble inorganic nutrients during leaching depends on various factors, including the specific nutrient, soil properties, and environmental conditions. Precipitation as salts is one possible outcome of leaching for water-soluble inorganic nutrients.