Why is cation-exchange capacity (CEC)an important soil characteristic?
A)CEC is an indication of the soil permeability; the lower the CEC the higher the permeability.
B)CEC is a measure of soil fertility; the higher the CEC the higher the soil fertility.
C)CEC is used to infer soil texture without having to use a soil texture triangle.
D)CEC is an indirect way to measure soil pH; it indicates whether the soil is neutral,alkaline,or acidic.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Cation-exchange capacity (CEC) is a measure of the soil's ability to retain and exchange positively charged ions (cations) such as potassium, calcium, and magnesium. The higher the CEC, the higher the amount of these nutrients that the soil can hold and supply to plants. Therefore, CEC is an important soil characteristic that can be used to assess soil fertility.

Why Is Cation-Exchange Capacity (CEC)an Important Soil Characteristic