If a soil test shows low CEC, what is its likely effect on nutrient retention?

When a soil test indicates a low cation exchange capacity (CEC), it suggests that the soil has a reduced ability to hold and exchange essential nutrients. CEC is a measure of how well soil can retain cations, which include important nutrients like potassium, magnesium, calcium, and ammonium. Soils with low CEC tend to have fewer negatively charged sites available to hold these positively charged nutrients, leading to poor retention.

This low nutrient retention means that plants may struggle to access vital nutrients, especially during periods of rainfall or irrigation when nutrients can leach away from the root zone more easily. As a consequence, crops grown in soils with low CEC may exhibit nutrient deficiencies, which can impact their growth and overall yield potential. Therefore, the correct understanding of low CEC and its implications for nutrient retention directly supports the selection of low nutrient retention as the appropriate effect.