Just how important is CEC?

A hazy understanding of cation exchange capacity can lead to management decisions that are not necessarily good economics or agronomics

by KEITH REID

Cation exchange capacity, more commonly referred to as CEC, is one of those basic soil properties that is poorly understood by most non-soil scientists. This may mean that CEC is ignored as a factor in soil management. Too often, this lack of knowledge leads to some very strange and expensive decisions regarding fertilizer applications.

Better Farming - March 2011