Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC)

Definition

Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) is a measure of how well a particular type of soil can retain and exchange cations (positively charged ions). It indicates the ability of the soil to hold onto essential nutrients for plant growth.

Related terms

Clay Soil: Clay soils generally have higher CEC because they have more surface area for cations to attach.

Base Saturation: Base saturation refers to the percentage of cation exchange sites occupied by basic cations like calcium and magnesium.

Leaching:

Excessive rainfall or irrigation can cause leaching, which reduces CEC by washing away nutrients from the topsoil.