Calculating Cation Exchange Capacity, Base Saturation, and Calcium Saturation

Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC)

Cation exchange capacity (CEC) is a fundamental soil property used to predict plant nutrient
availability and retention in the soil. It is the potential of available nutrient supply, not a direct
measurement of available nutrients.

Soil CEC typically increases as clay content and organic matter increase because cation exchange
occurs on surfaces of clay minerals, organic matter, and roots.

Soils in Ohio can encompass a wide CEC range, but typically fall somewhere between 5 to 25
meq/100 g soil (Table 1). Values over 25 meq/100 g soil are found with heavy clay soils, organic, or
muck soils.
Table 1. The relationship between soil texture
and CEC

Typical
Soil Texture CEC (meq/100 g
soil)

Sands 3-5

Loams 10-15

Silt loams 15-25

Clay and clay loams 20-50

Organic soils 50-100

Cation exchange capacity is defined as a soil’s total quantity of negative surface charges. It is
measured commonly in commercial soil testing labs by summing cations (positively charged ions
that are attracted to the negative surface charges in soil).

Exchangeable cations include base cations, calcium (Ca 2+), magnesium (Mg 2+), potassium (K +) and
sodium (Na +), as well as acid cations such as hydrogen (H +), aluminum (Al 3+) and ammonium (NH 4+).
CEC = Base cations + Acid cations
(Ca + Mg2+ + K+ + Na+) + (H+ + Al3+ + NH4+)
2+
Figure 1 illustrates a low CEC soil, with a small number of negative charges and associated cations
(left) and a high CEC soil with a larger amount of negative charges, occupied by a greater number of
total cations (right).

Figure 1. Soils with different CEC values.

Base Saturation

Base saturation is calculated as the percentage of CEC occupied by base cations. Figure 2 shows
two soils with the same CEC, but the soil on the right has more base cations (in blue). Therefore, it
has a higher base saturation. Base saturation is closely related to pH; as base saturation increases,
pH increases.

Base Saturation (%) = ( Base cations/CEC ) x 100𝑥 100

Similarly, we can calculate the base saturation for each individual base cation. Calcium base
saturation is calculated as the percentage of CEC occupied by calcium cations. In Figure 2, the soil
on the right has twice as many calcium cations (Ca 2+), thus a higher calcium saturation.
Calcium Saturation (%) = ( Calcium cations/CEC ) x 100𝑥 100
 Figure 2. Soil with differences in base saturation.
Calculating CEC from a Soil Test

CEC is reported as milliequivalents per 100 grams of soil (meq/100g), or charge per weight of soil.
Milliequivalents are used instead of weight because charge is more useful when talking about ion
exchange.

So, how do we take the concentration of nutrients in a soil test (ppm) and convert to charges
(meq/100g soil)? Soil testing laboratories often provide these values already on the soil test report,
or will provide them upon request. However, to gain a better understanding of the relationships, the
steps to perform these calculations are outlined below.

Step 1: Determine the gram equivalent weight of each base cation. Each base cation has an atomic
weight and valence number (charge) in the periodic table of elements. Figure 3 shows the base
cations. For calcium, the atomic weight is ~40 grams per mole and the charge is 2. We divide each
atomic weight (40) by the charge (2) to calculate the gram equivalent weight (20). The value for each
base cation is outlined in Table 2.

Figure 3. Basic cations from the periodic table.

Step 2. Convert gram equivalent weight into charge per weight of soil (meq/100g soil).
equivalent× 1000 milli equivalent × 1 = 10 meq g soi
1 equivalent 100 g soil
 Step 3. Multiply the gram equivalent weight by 10 to convert to meq/100g of soil. Again, for calcium,
the gram equivalent weight of 20 grams multiplied by 10 gives us 200 meq/100 g soil. This meq/100g
soil value is used as a conversion factor for the nutrient concentration values (ppm) received in a
soil test. The bolded values in the last column in Table 2 can be used as a conversion factor each
time and will not change.

Table 2. The meq/100g soil constants for the base cations Ca, Mg, K, and Na.

Atomic Gram Equivalent Milliequivalent/ 100

Base Cation Charge (Valence)
Weight Weight (g) g soil

Calcium (Ca) 40 2 20 200

Magnesium (Mg) 24 2 12 120

Potassium (K) 39 1 39 390

Sodium (Na) 23 1 23 230

Step 4. Convert soil test nutrient concentration to charge. Table 3 provides an example of typical soil
test levels in Ohio (in ppm). We can calculate the collective charge each cation occupies on the
exchange sites by taking the values calculated in Table 2 (last column) and dividing them by the soil
test levels. For calcium, a soil test level of 2000 ppm, divided by 200 equals 10.0 meq/100 g soil.
This is done for each cation individually.

Step 5. Calculate collective charge from base cations. Next, we add up the charges of each base
cation. For this example, the sum of base cations equals 12.4 meq/100g soil (Table 3).

Step 6. Calculate exchangeable acidity, using the buffer pH with the empirically derived conversion
equation (Table 3). If the soil has a pH greater than 7.0, you essentially have no exchangeable
acidity and CEC is just the sum of base cations. A soil with a buffer pH of 6.6 indicates that acidic
cations occupy 4.8 meq per 100 grams of soil.

Table 3. Conversion of soil test values (ppm) to meq/100 g soil for base and acid cations to determine CEC.

Base Cation Soil test level (ppm) Milliequivalent/ 100 g soil meq/100 g soil

Calcium (Ca 2+) 2000 200 10.0

Magnesium (Mg 2+) 240 120 2.0

Potassium (K +) 100 390 0.26

Sodium (Na +) 20 230 0.09

Subtotal 12.4

Acid Cation Buffer pH Conversion Equation meq/ 100 g soil

Exchangeable acidity (H +, Al 3+,

6.6 12 x (7.0 – 6.6) 4.8
NH4+)

*If soil test values are in pound per acre, then first convert pound per acre to ppm by dividing soil test values by 2.

**If buffer pH is 7 or above, then you have no exchangeable acidity (CEC = sum of base cations).

Step 7. Calculate CEC by adding the base cations and acid cations:
Cation exchange capacity (CEC) = Base cations + Acid cations
=12.4 + 4.8=12.4 + 4.8
= 17.2 meq/100 g
With CEC, we can calculate the following (multiplying by 100 to get a percentage):

Base Saturation (%) = ( Base cations/CEC ) x 100𝑥 100

= (12.4/17.2) x 100𝑥 100
= 72%
Calcium Saturation (%) = ( Calcium cations/CEC ) x 100𝑥 100
= (10/17.2) x 100𝑥 100
= 58%
Magnesium Saturation (%) = ( Magnesium cations/CEC ) x 100𝑥 100
= (2.0/17.2) x 100𝑥 100
= 12%
 Answers to cation exchange capacity practice problems
1.One mole is the atomic mass or molecular weight per liter of each cation or anion. Use the
periodic table on the front cover of the text to find the mass of each element. Sum the masses of
the constituent elements in each molecule. Note that mass values have been rounded to the
nearest whole number.

Ion Mass of 1 mole Mass of 1 centimole Mass of 1 millimole (mg)

(g) (g)
H+ 1 0.01 1

Ca2+ 40 0.40 40
Na+ 23 0.23 23
K+ 39 0.39 39
SO42- 96 0.96 96
NO3- 62 0.62 62
HCO3- 61 0.61 61

2.

It is the atomic mass or molecular weight divided by the charge. For example, the mass of one
mole of calcium ions is 40 g. The charge is plus 2. The mass of calcium ions required to supply
one mole of charge of calcium ions is the mass divided by the charge, (40/2=20).

Both mass of 1 mole of the ion or molecule (determined in question 1) and 1 mole of charge and 1
centimole of charge are shown in this table.

Ion Mass (g) Mass of molc (g) Mass of cmolc (g)

H+ 1 1 0.01

Ca2+ 40 20 0.20
Na+ 23 23 0.23
K+ 39 39 0.39
SO42- 96 48 0.48
NO3- 62 62 0.62
HCO3- 61 61 0.61

3.

You need to replace the potassium which is positively charged with positively charged
ions. Each mole of CaCl2 has two molc (+) supplied by the calcium (Ca2+). You need to
replace 4 molc K+, thus you need two moles of CaCl2 to supply the 4 moles of charge. One
mole of CaCl2 weighs 111 g. You need 2* 111 or 222 grams of CaCl2 to supply 4 moles of
charge to replace the potassium.

4.
12 molc of K+. It always takes 1 molc to replace 1 molc regardless of the ion carrying the
charge.

5.

In problem 4, it was determined that 12 molc K+ are required to replace 12 molc Ca2+. From
the answer to problem 2, you know that 1 molc K+ has a mass of 39 g. You need 12 * 39 =
468 g of K+.

6.

You require 12 molc Ca2+ to replace 12 molc K+. BUT, only 6 moles of Ca2+ are required
because each mole has 2 molc. From the answer to problem 2, you know that a mole of
Ca2+ is 40 g and that 1 molc has a mass of 20g. You can solve this problem either by
multiplying 40g/mole *6 moles or 20 g/molc * 12 molc. In either case, the answer is 240 g.

Keeping the units attached to figures will help you to work through these problems.

7.

In problem 6 you determined that you need 6 moles of Ca2+. Each mole of CaCO3 contains
1 mole of calcium. You need 6 moles of CaCO3 to obtain the required 6 moles of
Ca2+. Each mole of CaCO3 has a mass of 100 g. You need 6 moles * 100 g/mole = 600 g.

8.

If you assume that you removed 100% of the ions on the exchange complex of the soil, then
you sum the cmolc for the ions removed from the soil. The answer is 16 cmolc Kg-1.

9.

To determine the mass, you multiply the number of centimoles of charge by the mass per
centimole of charge. Note the units here are centimoles not moles. From the answer to
problem 2 you have the mass/cmolc. The mass is the product of the numbers in the second
and third columns.

Ion cmolc Kg-1 on exchange mass/cmolc (g) mass (g/kg soil)

H+ 6 0.01 0.06
Ca2+ 6 0.20 1.20
Mg2+ 2 0.24 0.48
K+ 1 0.39 0.39
Na+ 1 0.23 0.23

10.

First, you determine the cmolc of each cation on the exchange complex by multiplying the total
CEC by the percentage for that ion. For hydrogen it is 0.05 * 30 cmolc/kg. You then convert the
cmolc/kg for each ion to mass of ion per kg by multiplying by the mass of 1 cmolc. For hydrogen
this is 0.01g/cmolc*1.5 cmolc/kg = 0.015 g/kg. The calculations and answers are shown in the table
below.

Ion Percent of ion on cmolc of ion on cmolc/kg soil of mass (g/kg) of each ion
exchange exchange each ion
H+ 5 0.05 * 30 1.5 0.01*1.5 = 0.015
Ca2+ 50 0.50 * 30 15.0 0.2*15 = 3
Mg2+ 20 0.20 * 30 6.0 0.12*6 = 0.72
K+ 23 0.23 * 30 6.9 0.39*6.9 = 2.691
Na+ 2 0.02 * 30 0.6 0.23*0.6 = 0.138

11.

First find out how much sodium is on the exchange complex. If 12% of the CEC is occupied by Na+, then
0.12 * 25 cmolc/kg = 3 cmolc/kg is Na+.

The problem is to replace one-half of the sodium with calcium from gypsum (CaSO4). You need
to replace 0.5 * 3 cmolc/kg = 1.5 cmolc/kg Na+ with the same number of cmolc of calcium = 1.5 cmolc/kg
Ca2+. You need to add 1.5 cmolc calcium in the form of gypsum.

Each cmol of gypsum carries 1 cmol of calcium and 2 cmolc calcium. The mass of 1 cmol
gypsum= 1.36 g CaSO4 (0.40 g (Ca) plus 0.96 g (SO4)). The weight of 1 cmolc of Ca2+ from the gypsum
is 1.36 g CaSO4/cmol gypsum divided by 2 cmolc/cmol gypsum. You need to add 0.68 g gypsum/cmolc
replaced. You are required to replace 1.5 cmolc. The weight to get 1.5 cmolc. is 0.68 g/cmolc*1.5
cmolc/kg soil = 1.02 g.

You must add 1.02g of CaSO4 to a kg of soil to replace 50% of the sodium if the efficiency is
100%.