Low retention of water and nutrients in the root zones of highly permeable sandy soils are primary contributors to their low production capacities of corn in Michigan. Excessive irrigation combined with excessive drainage cause excessive leaching of nitrates and potassium leading to high nitrate concentrations of in groundwater. Low water contents in the root zones of sandy soils result in little plant available water. Although recent developments in drip irrigation/fertilization scheduling have increased corn yields, groundwater concentrations of nitrates continue to increase. The MSU soil water retention technology (SWRT) coupled with prescription irrigation and fertigation has produced record yields of 325 bu/a of corn, yet little is known of the soil nutrient retention, ion distribution and crop uptake efficiency. This study was initiated in newly applied subsurface water retention technology (SWRT) to retain essential soil solutions in the root zone of crop plants. Measurements of chemically extracted nitrate and potassium from soil were compared with solution concentrations directly extracted from soil solutions by the RHIZON micro-lysimeter soil solution samplers placed near soil water, temperature and salinity probes. These measurements were used to compare nutrient retention and flux rates in the root zone above SWRT water impermeable membranes. Field samples were taken at multiple depths during various plant growth stages and compared with side dressing, fertigation and rainfall events. Greater quantities of nitrates leached than potassium. The wetting–drying (W–D) cycles of the soil greatly affected the concentration of nitrate and potassium in the soil solution.