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Martinsville, Ohio | You could just about justify buying a farm on CEC.
The higher the number the better the soil to some extent.
The old Illinoian Glacial Till I am used to runs 7-10, little capacity to hold nutrient. The Wisconsin Glacial Till runs higher, more capacity to hold nutrient. Still, Some Iowa and Illinois farmers would scoff at our levels, farther east, glacier died out, been farmed hard for 100 years more or so.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cation_exchange_capacity
Some real good links here:
http://www.google.com/search?q=cation+exchange+capacity&rls...
My oldest boy just called on the way to school, teaching ag and they have district soils today. Dig pits and judge the soil by looks instead of chemistry. I told him we are discussing this right now on NAT.
Harvest has started and that is job one but dig a pit and see what you are farming over and try to understand.
The soil test revolves around CEC. Find out what it means for you.
Good luck,
Ed Winkle | |
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Cec of soil
