Nutrient movement slows down in a dry soil due to

Nutrient movement slows down in dry soil due to less water.
As water content decreases, soil matric potential decreases, becoming more negative, and as a result, water is held more strongly to mineral surfaces due to cohesive forces between water molecules and adhesive forces associated with water and mineral particles.
Water is essential for cellular homeostasis because it transports nutrients to cells and removes wastes from cells. It is the medium in which all transport systems function, allowing exchanges between cells.