Abstract:
A study was made of the cation exchange capacity of forty soil
samples representing fourteen soil profiles of Kerala in relation to the mechanical
composition and organic matter status of the soil. The important findings
are summarised below:
(1) The cation exchange capacity of the different soil groups exhibited
wide variations, the sandy soil recording the lowest and the black soil the
highest value. With the exception of black, kari and some alluvial soils all
other soil groups gave very low values for this property.
(2) Correlation between cation exchange capacity and clay for all the
samples taken together was positive and highly significant. The same positive
relationship was observed when the individual soil groups were considered.
(3) The relationship between organic matter and cation exchange
capacity for all the samples together was positive but not significant.
