Answer to Question #209426 in General Chemistry for Khangwelo Lovers

Question

1. why it is important to measure cation exchange capacity
2. factors that influence CEC of soils; a range of CEC for different soil textures and clay minerals and soil colloids

Answer 1

1.Cation exchange capacity (CEC) is a useful indicator of soil fertility because it shows the soil's ability to supply three important plant nutrients: calcium, magnesium and potassium.

2.Factors influencing the CEC include the soil type, the soil pH and the soil organic matter content. Soils are made up of sand, organic matter, silt and clay particles. Soils with high sand content have low holding capacity for cations compared to clayey and silty soils.