A soil with high CEC would be best described as having which characteristic?

• A. Low water-holding capacity.
• B. A greater ability to hold and exchange positively charged nutrients.
• C. Low nutrient retention.
• D. Poor structure.

Answer: (D)

A soil with high cation exchange capacity can attract and hold more positively charged nutrient ions and exchange them with plant roots. This means it has a greater ability to retain essential nutrients like calcium, magnesium, and potassium, making them available to plants as needed. That’s why describing it as having a stronger capacity to hold and exchange positively charged nutrients is the best fit. Water-holding and structure depend on other factors like texture and organic matter, so they aren’t defined by CEC alone.