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Cation Exchange CapacityCEC
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Cation Exchange Capacity
https://www.spectrumanalytic.com/support/library/ff/CEC_BpH_and_percent_sat.htm
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Cations
Cations are positively charged ions such as
Calcium Ca++
Magnesium Mg++
Potassium K+
Sodium Na+
Ammonium NH4+
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Cation Exchange Capacity
The capacity of the soil to hold on to these cations
the negatively-charged clay and organic matter particles attract the positive cations
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Cation Exchange Capacity
These cations are easily exchangeable with other cations
This makes them PLANT AVAILABLE
Plants pick up nutrients in solution.
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Cation Exchange Capacity
The CEC of a soil represents the TOTAL amount of exchangeable cations that a soil can adsorb
this is mainly Calcium, Magnesium and Potassium
also Sodium in drier climates
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CEC Units
The CEC of a soil is expressed in meq/100g (milli-equivalents per 100 grams of soil) or cmol/kg
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What contributes to the CEC?
Clay and organic matter particles are negatively charged
the negatively-charged clay and organic matter particles attract the positive cations
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Clay particles & CEC
Clay surfaces are negatively charged
the negative charges on clay particles are permanent
the charges do not change
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CEC & Organic matter
OM 4-100X higher CEC than clay (per volume)
depends on organic matter breakdown(surface area)
the amount of charges (CEC) are pH-dependent
https://www.pthorticulture.com/en/training-center/what-are-the-grades-of-peat-moss/
https://chathamtreeservices.com/chatham-kent-tree-services/wood-chips/
http://www.mryardoh.com/leaf_humus.html
https://chathamtreeservices.com/chatham-kent-tree-services/wood-chips/
Low CEC
High CEC
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CEC and pH
as pH increases, CEC increases
Visual
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Root Surfaces & CEC
Cations are attracted to charged surface of cells within the root, called cortex cells.
The plant root releases a hydrogen ion.
The pH of the immediately surrounding soil decreases.
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Cation Aggressiveness
as Valence increases aggression increases
Na+ < K+ = NH4+ < Mg++ = Ca++ < Al+++(OH)2 < H+
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Mass action
all of you against me - pack mentality
aggression is important one-on-one
if you over apply NH4+ it WILL bump off Ca off the exchange sites
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Implications
The higher the CEC the more clay or organic matter present in the soil
This usually means that high CEC soils (clay) have a greater water-holding capacity than low CEC (sandy) soils
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Implications
High CEC soils are less susceptible to leaching losses of these cations
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Implications
For low CEC soils (sandy) a large one time addition of cations (fertilizers) can lead to large leaching losses
the soil isn’t able to hold the excess cations
more frequent additions of smaller amounts is better
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CEC
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Base Saturation
a measurement that indicates the relative amounts of base cations in the soil
it is the percentage of calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium cations that make up the total cation exchange capacity
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Base Saturation
For example, a base saturation of 75 % means that 75 % of the cation exchange capacity is occupied by the base cations Ca++, Mg++, Na+ and K+
Generally, the base saturation is relatively high in prairie soils (100%)
The pH of soil increases as base saturation increases
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Soil base saturation at a neutral pH of 7
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Determine how much specific nutrient is held on the Cation Exchange Complex
STEP 1
Equation: base saturation % of specific nutrient X CEC (meq/100g)
Calcium
84.9/100 X 26.7 meq/100gsoil
= 22.67 meq Ca++/100g soil
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STEP 2
Determine ppm of specific nutrient (given meq/100g)
Equation: meq/100g* X 10 X atomic mass/+charge
* answer from step 1
Calcium
22.67 meq X10 X 40g/mol/2
= 4534 ppm Ca++/100g soil