Summary
CEC and oxidisable carbon content were highly correlated (r=0.96) whereas a lower coefficient was obtained for a correlation of CEC and clay content (r=0.57) in a chronosequence of sandy soils from New Zealand.
Partial regression coefficients for oxidisable carbon were highly significant in multiple regression equations for all soil groupings whereas in only one equation was the coefficient for clay significant. The CEC of the organic matter for all soils was 1.4 me/g and this value decreased from 1.64 me/g in the young soils to 1.22 me/g in old soils.
Peroxidation of selected surface samples caused a reduction in CEC but the results indicated that the clay fractions had a considerably higher CEC (0.57 me/g) than that inferred from multiple regression equations for untreated samples. Selective dissolution analysis indicated that the clay fractions of these soils contained an appreciable amount of amorphous material. Reduction in the CEC of the clay fraction apparently occurs through a blocking by organic matter of the negative charge of the clay components.
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Syers, J.K., Campbell, A.S. & Walker, T.W. Contribution of organic carbon and clay to cation exchange capacity in a chronosequence of sandy soils. Plant Soil 33, 104–112 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01378202
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01378202