AGRICULTURE OF SCIENCE

TITLE: SOIL CATIONS EXCHANGEABLE CAPACITY

PREPARED BY: ENDEY WENDY DARIANUS

2011

Title: Soil cations exchangeable capacity

Introduction

In soil science, cation exchange capacity (CEC) is the maximum quantity of total cations, of any class, that a soil is capable of holding, at a given pH value, for exchanging with the soil solution. CEC is used as a measure of fertility, nutrient retention capacity, and the capacity to protect groundwater from cation contamination. It is expressed as milliequivalent of hydrogen per 100 g (meq+/100g), or centi mol per kg (cmol+/kg). The numeric expression is coincident in both units. Clay and humus have electrostatic surface charges that attract the solution ions, and hold them. This holding capacity varies for the different clay types and clay-blends present in soil, and is very dependent of the proportion of clay+humus that is present in a particular soil. A way to increase CEC is to favor the formation of humus.

Objective

 To defined as the degree to which a soil can absorb and exchange cations.  To know the importance of soil cations exchangeable capacity.  To defined and understand the meanings of the terms cation exchange and cation exchange capacity (CEC).  To measure cation exchange capacity and concentration of exchangeable cations in soil.

Materials

i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi. vii. viii. ix. x. xi.

Soil sample Plastic vial Measuring cylinder 1M NH4OAc Ethanol M K2SO4 M HCl or 0.01 M H2SO4 40% NaOH 2% boric acid-indicator solution Leaching tube Whatman filter paper No. 2

Method

Ammonium acetate (leaching) method. 1. 1m ammonium acetate (NH4 OAc) solution with ph of 7.0 were prepare. This were done by weighing 77.1 g of ammonium acetate in a 1- L beaker. 800 mL distilled water was added and stir mechanically until all crystals dissolved completely. The pH of the solution should be slightly above 7 if the mixture is properly prepared. Only a slight was added adjust the pH of the solution is necessary by adding few drop (drop-wise)of acetic acid and stir constanly to adjust the pH of the solution to 7.0. 2. The solution quantitative was transfer into a 1.L volumetric flask, and make up to the volume with distilled water. 3. The base of leaching tube was fill with broth and was cover with whatman filter paper no.2. 4. Weight 10g for soil and was place in tube and cover the soil with whatman filter n0.2.

5. Soil was leach with 100 mL of 1m NH4OAc for 5 to 6 hours. During the leacing process do not allow the soil dry. 6. The soil was wash with 95 % ethanol and discard the ethanol collection. 7. The soil was leach with 100 ml of 0.1 K2SO4 and the leachate was collect in a 100 mL volumetric flask and make up to volume. 8. Pipatte 10 mL of the sample was added into distillation apparatus. 10 mL of 40% NaOH was added. 9. Distill and collect distillate in 10 mL of 29 % boric acid-indicator solution were done. The colour were change from purple to green clumy distillatory. 10. 50 mL conical flask containing the distillate was remove when twice of the original volume is obtained. 11. 0.01 MHCL or 0.01M H2 SO4 was titrate agains until colour change from green to purple. This directly give the CEC in meq/100g of soil or (mol (+))/kg of soil. Cation exchange capacity is calculate as: CEC ((mol)(+)/Kg soil = Titrate value (mL) concentration of acid used 100/10 1000/10. The amount of total exchangeable macro cation can also be used to determine of CEC.

Result

AAS reading

Kalium (dilution factor 50) Calcium Magnesium (dilution factor 100x)

= 0.151 = 0.73 = 0.261

AAS Reading x Volume/Weight x Dilution Factor = Value of element (ppm) The calculation of cation exchange capacity: Value of element (ppm) = AAS reading x volume/weight x dilution factors

Kalium value (ppm) (Dilution factor = 50)

=0.151 x (100mL/10g) x 50 = 75.5 ppm

Calcium value (ppm) (Dilution factor = none)

= 0.73 x (100mL/10g) = 7.3

Magnesium value (ppm) (Dilution factor = 100)

= 0.261 x (100mL/10g) x 100 = 261 ppm

Discussion Question 1. What are the factor that influence the CEC of soil? (2 factor).

The primary factor determining CEC is the clay and organic matter content of the soil. Higher quantities of clay and organic matter beget higher CEC. Different types of clays have different CECs (discussed later). Amounts of negative and positive charges are both expressed in milliequivalents. One milliequivalent of negative charge on a clay particle is neutralized by one milliequivalent of cation. A milliequivalent takes into account both the weight and the charge of the cation. To get an appreciation for this concept in practical terms consult Table 1 which lists the approximate amount of a cation in pounds per acre found in an acre of soil to a depth of 6 inches at 1 meq/100 g

Table 1. Cation characteristics and amount of various cations in pounds per acre equal to 1 meq/100 g in one acre soil to a depth of 6 inches.

Amount in 1 acre soil 6- inch Cation Charge Molecular weight deep at 1 meq cation/100

Pounds per acre 3+ 2+ 1+ 2+ 1+ 1+

Aluminium Calcium Hydrogen Potassium Magnesium Sodium

27 40 1 24 39 23

180 400 20 240 780 460

Organic matter has a CEC of about 150 milliequivalents per 100 grams (often abbreviated 150 meq/100 g). There are several types of clay minerals that occur in soils and their CECs differs. The predominant clay mineral in most Carolina soils is kaolinite which has a CEC of 5 meq/100 g. Other clay minerals, such as smectite and vermiculite, have in excess of 100 meq/100 g CEC, but only occur in limited amounts in some Carolina soils. An average loamy sand soil in the Coastal Plain of the Carolinas will typically have a clay content of 10% and an organic matter content of 1%. The CEC will be expected to be about 2.0 meq/100 g soil; 1.5 meq/100 g from 1% of 150 meq/100 g for the organic matter and 0.5 meq/100 g from 10% of 5.0 meq/100 g for kaolinite clay.

2. What is the difference between effective actions exchange capacity (ECEC) and CEC?

a) Effective Actions Exchange Capacity

Definition: Effective cation-exchange capacity is the sum of ammonium acetate extractable bases plus potassium chloride extractable aluminum.

Significance: Cation-exchange capacity (CEC) is a measure of the ability of a soil to retain cations, some of which are plant nutrients. Soils that have a low cationexchange capacity hold fewer cations and may require more frequent applications of fertilizer and amendments than soils that have a high cation-exchange capacity. Soils that have a high cation-exchange capacity have the potential to retain cations. Effective CEC is a measure of CEC that is particularly useful in soils whose ionexchange capacity is largely a result of variable charge components, such as allophane, kaolinite, hydrous iron and aluminum oxides, and organic matter. As a result, the CEC of these soils is not a fixed number but is a function of pH. Examples include some andic soils, Oxisols, and more weathered Ultisols with kaolinitic mineralogy.

Measurement: Effective cation-exchange capacity is calculated from the results of two separate laboratory methods. One method measures the basic cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+) extractable in a solution of one normal ammonium acetate buffered at pH 7.0. Another method measures the aluminum extractable in a solution of one normal potassium chloride. The methods are outlined in Soil Survey Investigations Report No. 42, Soil Survey Laboratory Methods Manual, Version 4.0, November 2004, USDA, NRCS. The effective cation-exchange capacity (ECEC) value is reported for soil horizons that have pH <5.5 and that are low in soluble salts. For soils that have a pH of 5.5 or greater, the ECEC equals the sum of NH4OAc extractable bases. Effective cation-exchange capacity is reported in centimoles per kilogram (cmol(+) kg-1) of soil, which are equivalent to milliequivalents per 100 grams (meq 100 g-1) of soil.

D. Entries: Enter the high, low, and representative values of the estimated range in effective cation-exchange capacity at the field pH of the soil, in meq 100 g-1, for the horizon. The range of valid entries is from 0 to 400 meq 100 g-1, and tenths (one decimal place) are allowed

b) Cation Exchange Capacity.

Definition: Cation-exchange capacity is the amount of exchangeable cations that a soil can absorb at pH 7.0.

Significance: Cation-exchange capacity is a measure of the ability of a soil to retain cations, some of which are plant nutrients. Soils that have a low cation-exchange capacity hold fewer cations and may require more frequent applications of fertilizer than soils that have a high cation-exchange capacity. Soils that have a high cationexchange capacity have the potential to retain cations, which reduces the risk of the pollution of ground water.

Measurement: Cation-exchange capacity is measured by the methods outlined in Soil Survey Investigations Report No. 42, Soil Survey Laboratory Methods Manual, Version 4.0, November 2004, USDA, NRCS. The ammonium acetate method gives the cation-exchange capacity value (CEC-7) for soils that have pH >5.5 or contain soluble salts. This method uses a solution of one normal ammonium acetate buffered at pH 7.0 to provide the extracting index cation (NH4+). Cation-exchange capacity is reported in centimoles per kilogram (cmol(+) kg-1), which are equivalent to milliequivalents per 100 grams (meq 100 g-1) of soil.

Entries: Enter the high, low, and representative values of the estimated range in cation-exchange capacity, in meq 100 g-1, for each horizon with pH >5.5. The range of valid entries is from 0 to 400 meq 100 g-1, and tenths (one decimal place) are allowed.

3. How the soil CEC can be improve? Discuss 3 surtable method.

i. ii.

Improve CEC in weathered soils by adding lime and raising the pH. Otherwise, adding organic matter is the most effective way of improving the CEC of soil.

iii.

This can be done with permanent pasture, regular slashing, green manure crops, leaving crop stubbles to rot, rotating crops or pasture, and the addition of mulch and manure.

4. How can CEC affect availability of cation. (eg. K, Ca, Mg) in solid? Exchangeable cations, may become available to plants. Plant roots also possess cation exchange capacity. Hydrogen ions from the root hairs and microorganisms may replace nutrient cations from the exchange complex on soil colloids. The nutrient cations are then released into the soil solution where they can be taken up by the adsorptive surfaces of roots and soil organisms. They may however, be lost from the system by drainage water. Additionally, high levels of one nutrient may influence uptake of another (antagonistic relationship). For example, K uptake by plants is limited by high levels of Ca in some soils. High levels of K can in turn, limit Mg uptake even if Mg levels in soil are high.

Conclusion

As a conclusion, by the end of the practical we know the cation exchange capacity (CEC) is a measure of the soils ability to hold positively charged ions. It is a very important soil property influencing soil structure stability, nutrient availability, soil pH and the soils reaction to fertilisers and other ameliorants.

Reference

1. Cornell University Cooperative Extension (CUCE) (2007) Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC). Agronomy Fact Sheet Series # 22. Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University. 2. Rayment GE, Higginson FR (1992) Electrical Conductivity. In Australian Laboratory Handbook of Soil and Water Chemical Methods Inkata Press: Melbourne. 3. McKenzie NJ, Jacquier DJ, Isbell RF, Brown KL (2004) Australian Soils and Landscapes An Illustrated Compendium CSIRO Publishing: Collingwood, Victoria.