EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Cation exchange capacity (CEC) is a measure of the total negative charges within the soil that adsorb plant nutrient cations such as calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+) and potassium (K+). As such, the CEC is a property of a soil that describes its capacity to supply nutrient cations to the soil solution for plant uptake.

Detailed explanation-2: -As CEC increases, more nutrients are attached to soil particles, and fewer remain in the soil solution. Since the nutrients in soil solution are available to plants, this means that while there are plenty of nutrients in the soil, the plants may not be able to take advantage of them.

Detailed explanation-3: -True. Which one of the following refers to the nutrient-holding ability of the soil? Cation Exchange Capacity. What is the ideal percent of organic matter that should be found in a soil.

Detailed explanation-4: -The cation-exchange capacity of a soil is determined by its constituent materials, which can vary greatly in their individual CEC values. CEC is therefore dependent on parent materials from which the soil developed, and the conditions under which it developed.

Detailed explanation-5: -Cation exchange. The ‘soil cations’ essential for plant growth include ammonium, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. There are three additional ‘soil cations, ’ which are not essential plant elements but affect soil pH. The additional ‘soil cations’ include sodium, aluminum and hydrogen.