What is meant by soil solution?

The term "soil solution" refers specifically to the water present in the soil that contains dissolved nutrients and other solutes. This nutrient-rich liquid is essential for plant growth, as it provides the necessary minerals and elements that plants uptake through their roots.

Understanding soil solution is critical for managing soil health and fertility because it influences how well plants can access nutrients. The dissolved nutrients in the soil solution are what plants rely on for growth, including essential elements such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and various micronutrients.

The other options do not accurately represent what soil solution is. In particular, water in soil devoid of nutrients would not provide the necessary resources for plants, while water held tightly around particles and water that is not available to plants do not contribute to the concept of a nutrient-rich solution that facilitates plant uptake. Thus, the definition centered on dissolved nutrients is what makes the correct answer clear and integral to understanding soil chemistry and plant nutrition.