Higher Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) in soil generally increases its ability to hold what?

• A. True; Higher CEC increases nutrient retention.
• B. False; Higher CEC decreases nutrient retention.
• C. It has no effect on nutrient retention.
• D. It only affects water infiltration.

Answer: (A)

Cation exchange capacity shows how much negative charge the soil surface provides to hold positively charged nutrient ions. When CEC is higher, there are more sites to attract and hold cations like potassium, calcium, magnesium, and ammonium, so the soil can retain more nutrients and supply them to plants as needed rather than letting them wash away. This buffering helps maintain nutrient availability and reduces leaching. Water infiltration isn’t directly determined by CEC; it’s more strongly influenced by soil texture and structure, though soils with more clay and organic matter (which often have higher CEC) can behave differently in water movement.