Soil nutrients significantly influence the spatial distribution of tropical tree species. This study analyzed three diverse neotropical forest plots in Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama, using high-resolution data on tree and soil nutrient distributions. The results showed that 36–51% of tree species at these sites have strong associations with soil nutrient distributions. These associations cannot be explained by neutral dispersal assembly alone, suggesting that soil resource availability plays a key role in the assembly of tropical tree communities at local scales. The study used Monte Carlo simulations to test plant-soil associations against null expectations based on dispersal assembly. It found that soil nutrients, particularly Ca, Mg, K, and N, had significant effects on species distributions. However, N and P did not show stronger effects than Ca, Mg, and Fe. Soil nutrient distributions were often correlated with topographical features such as slope and elevation, indicating that physical processes are important in determining spatial variation in soil characteristics. The study also found that soil pH influences the availability of certain nutrients, with low pH values reducing the availability of Ca, Mg, K, and P, while increasing the availability of Al, Cu, Mn, and Zn. These patterns suggest that soil pH indirectly exerts strong influence on species distributions in these tropical forests. The findings indicate that soil resource availability plays a crucial role in the assembly of tropical tree communities at local scales. The study provides the basis for future investigations on the mechanisms of resource competition among tropical tree species. The results highlight the importance of soil nutrients in shaping the spatial distribution of tree species in tropical forests.Soil nutrients significantly influence the spatial distribution of tropical tree species. This study analyzed three diverse neotropical forest plots in Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama, using high-resolution data on tree and soil nutrient distributions. The results showed that 36–51% of tree species at these sites have strong associations with soil nutrient distributions. These associations cannot be explained by neutral dispersal assembly alone, suggesting that soil resource availability plays a key role in the assembly of tropical tree communities at local scales. The study used Monte Carlo simulations to test plant-soil associations against null expectations based on dispersal assembly. It found that soil nutrients, particularly Ca, Mg, K, and N, had significant effects on species distributions. However, N and P did not show stronger effects than Ca, Mg, and Fe. Soil nutrient distributions were often correlated with topographical features such as slope and elevation, indicating that physical processes are important in determining spatial variation in soil characteristics. The study also found that soil pH influences the availability of certain nutrients, with low pH values reducing the availability of Ca, Mg, K, and P, while increasing the availability of Al, Cu, Mn, and Zn. These patterns suggest that soil pH indirectly exerts strong influence on species distributions in these tropical forests. The findings indicate that soil resource availability plays a crucial role in the assembly of tropical tree communities at local scales. The study provides the basis for future investigations on the mechanisms of resource competition among tropical tree species. The results highlight the importance of soil nutrients in shaping the spatial distribution of tree species in tropical forests.