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A cation exchange capacity of the acid soil refers to the measure of the soil's capacity to hold and release positively charged ions that form acidic substances. It is based on a given pH level.

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16y ago
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Cation exchange capacity measures the ability of the soil to attract, hold onto, and exchange positively charged particles. These positively charged particles are called cations, as opposed to negatively charged particles that are called anions. Clayey and organic matter-rich soils tend to be negatively charged. Their negative charges attract and hold the oppositely, positively charged cations. Consequently, clayey and organic matter-rich soils generate higher cation exchange capacities. Their higher capacities are indicative of their fertility. For the strong attraction of the oppositely charged particles resists the loss of minerals through leaching, or being washed away in soil runoff. At the same time, the higher cation exchange capacities of clayey and organic matter-rich soils are accompanied by higher buffering capacities. For the strong attraction of the oppositely charged particles likewise resists changes in soil pH, which may be acidic, neutral or alkaline.

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Q: How is cation exchange capacity generated in the soil?
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What is the importance of soil colloids in soil fertility?

Soil colloids have large surface areas which can be used as sights for cation exchange, increasing the soils cation exchange capacity. The higher the cation exchange capacity in a soil, the more the soil is able to retain nutrients because the cations are suspended in the soil and are then able to be used by organisms in the soil.


Which factors affect buffering capacity of soil?

mineralogy, soil organic matter, soil texture, type of clay, cation exchange capacity, base saturation


How long does it take to replace eroded top soil?

Well really depends on your anabatic lapse rates because that is directly relevant to the erosion of topsoil and the density of which is eroded at, also if the Cation exchange capacity is greater than the pH of the soil the effect of aeolian processes is greatly maximised. Hope this helps :)


What is exchangeable acidity?

Exchangeable acidity is a measure of the amount of a soil's cation exchange capacity (CEC) that is occupied by acidic cations. By acidic cations, soil scientists generally mean H+ and Al3+, but it can also include Fe and Mn cations. Aluminum and iron cations will combine with OH- ions and take it out of solution, forming an insoluble compound. Exchangeable acidity is typically reported as a percentage of CEC, or in milliequivalents/100 g of soil.


How does cation exchange capacity affect soil fertiliy?

The cation exchange capacity (CEC) shows how well a soil can hold onto and store cations, so a soil with a high CEC would be able to hold more nutrients. A soil with low CEC for example would not only be missing some important nutrients but would also not be able to hold onto nutrients as well as a soil with a higher CEC. So even adding nutrients to a soil with a low CEC would not be very effective in improving fertility unless soil conditioning was applied that would help improve the CEC as well. Soils with a lot of cations can also hold onto water better since water is a polar molecule and is therefore attracted to the positively charged cations (hydrogen bonding). Plants that grow in soils with a high CEC value do not have to spend as much energy looking for minerals and water and therefore are able to devote it towards growth. Microorganisms that are essential for good soil health also thrive in these conditions. However, a soil with a high CEC can also hold more of the acidic hydrogen cations (H+). So when the soil pH of a soil with a high CEC needs to be adjusted it often acts as a buffer and therefore more acid or base is need to change the pH.

Related questions

What is the importance of soil colloids in soil fertility?

Soil colloids have large surface areas which can be used as sights for cation exchange, increasing the soils cation exchange capacity. The higher the cation exchange capacity in a soil, the more the soil is able to retain nutrients because the cations are suspended in the soil and are then able to be used by organisms in the soil.


What is the important of soil colloids in soil fertility?

Soil colloids have large surface areas which can be used as sights for cation exchange, increasing the soils cation exchange capacity. The higher the cation exchange capacity in a soil, the more the soil is able to retain nutrients because the cations are suspended in the soil and are then able to be used by organisms in the soil.


Which factors affect buffering capacity of soil?

mineralogy, soil organic matter, soil texture, type of clay, cation exchange capacity, base saturation


Why cation exchange capacity of of laterite soil much less?

Cation exchamnge capacity is directly related to the clay fraction within the soil. For lateritic soil, the surface of clay fracion is coated with the gels of sesquioxides which inturn reduces the surface activity of clay particles...


What kind of soil holds more fertilizer?

A clay soil has a higher cation exchange capacity than a sandy soil due to its high surface area (because of the small size of the particles), silt is also very high, as is a humus rich soil. the problem with silt and clay soils is they become waterlogged very quickly


What is a cation and how do you get them?

= cation =An ion or group of ions having a positive charge and characteristically moving toward the negative electrode in electrolysis.An atom, or group of atoms with a positive charge. Cation exchange is the process whereby a cation in solution is absorbed by a solid, replacing a different cation. Thus, in soil science, if a potassium salt is dissolved in water and applied to a soil, potassium cations are absorbed by soil particles, and sodium and calcium cations are released.


How long does it take to replace eroded top soil?

Well really depends on your anabatic lapse rates because that is directly relevant to the erosion of topsoil and the density of which is eroded at, also if the Cation exchange capacity is greater than the pH of the soil the effect of aeolian processes is greatly maximised. Hope this helps :)


What is exchange acidity?

Exchangeable acidity is a measure of the amount of a soil's cation exchange capacity (CEC) that is occupied by acidic cations. By acidic cations, soil scientists generally mean H+ and Al3+, but it can also include Fe and Mn cations. Aluminum and iron cations will combine with OH- ions and take it out of solution, forming an insoluble compound. Exchangeable acidity is typically reported as a percentage of CEC, or in milliequivalents/100 g of soil.


Can solid diffuse into another solidgive example?

Well really depends on your anabatic lapse rates because that is directly relevant to the erosion of topsoil and the density of which is eroded at, also if the Cation exchange capacity is greater than the pH of the soil the effect of aeolian processes is greatly maximised. Hope this helps


What does alfalfa and clover do?

In what context? In Crop science it is used in farming as a filler crop to help increase the Carbon to Nitrogen ratio (C:N) as well as assisting in the increase in other nutrients. further, in soil science: helps increase, when tilled and decomposed, to increase the number of soil colloids and in turn changing the CEC (Cation exchange capacity) The variety of clover in common is Crimson Clover.


What is exchangeable acidity?

Exchangeable acidity is a measure of the amount of a soil's cation exchange capacity (CEC) that is occupied by acidic cations. By acidic cations, soil scientists generally mean H+ and Al3+, but it can also include Fe and Mn cations. Aluminum and iron cations will combine with OH- ions and take it out of solution, forming an insoluble compound. Exchangeable acidity is typically reported as a percentage of CEC, or in milliequivalents/100 g of soil.


How does cation exchange capacity affect soil fertiliy?

The cation exchange capacity (CEC) shows how well a soil can hold onto and store cations, so a soil with a high CEC would be able to hold more nutrients. A soil with low CEC for example would not only be missing some important nutrients but would also not be able to hold onto nutrients as well as a soil with a higher CEC. So even adding nutrients to a soil with a low CEC would not be very effective in improving fertility unless soil conditioning was applied that would help improve the CEC as well. Soils with a lot of cations can also hold onto water better since water is a polar molecule and is therefore attracted to the positively charged cations (hydrogen bonding). Plants that grow in soils with a high CEC value do not have to spend as much energy looking for minerals and water and therefore are able to devote it towards growth. Microorganisms that are essential for good soil health also thrive in these conditions. However, a soil with a high CEC can also hold more of the acidic hydrogen cations (H+). So when the soil pH of a soil with a high CEC needs to be adjusted it often acts as a buffer and therefore more acid or base is need to change the pH.