Which soil texture generally has the lower cation exchange capacity (CEC)?

Prepare for the Rangeland Soil Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each offering hints and explanations. Ensure success in your test!

Multiple Choice

Which soil texture generally has the lower cation exchange capacity (CEC)?

Explanation:
Cation exchange capacity (CEC) is the soil’s ability to hold and exchange positively charged nutrients, and it depends mainly on surface area and charged sites on clay minerals and organic matter. Clay minerals provide numerous permanent negative charges, giving high CEC, while sandy textures have little surface area and minimal clay or organic matter, so they offer far fewer charged sites. Because of that, sandy soils generally hold nutrients poorly and are more prone to leaching. Loam and silt contain more fine particles and typically more clay and organic matter than sand, giving them higher CEC. So, the texture that typically has the lowest CEC is sandy soil.

Cation exchange capacity (CEC) is the soil’s ability to hold and exchange positively charged nutrients, and it depends mainly on surface area and charged sites on clay minerals and organic matter. Clay minerals provide numerous permanent negative charges, giving high CEC, while sandy textures have little surface area and minimal clay or organic matter, so they offer far fewer charged sites. Because of that, sandy soils generally hold nutrients poorly and are more prone to leaching. Loam and silt contain more fine particles and typically more clay and organic matter than sand, giving them higher CEC. So, the texture that typically has the lowest CEC is sandy soil.

More Multiple Choice Questions
Subscribe

Get the latest from Passetra

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy