Cation Exchange Capacity
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<plantfyi-glossary slug="cation-exchange-capacity"></plantfyi-glossary>Definition
A measure of a soil's ability to hold and exchange positively charged nutrient ions (Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, NH4+). Soils with high CEC (heavy clays, humus-rich soils) retain more nutrients; sandy soils have low CEC and require more frequent fertilization.
More Soil Science Terms
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