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Garden with Insight v1.0 Help: base saturation


Base saturation is the percent of cation exchange sites currently occupied by basic cations (mainly Ca2+, Mg2+, K+ and Na+). Because both basic cations and H+ (an acidic cation) can be adsorbed at cation exchange sites, base saturation is a measure of the richness of the soil with regards to non-hydrogen ions. H+ ions adsorbed to micelles are not included in the measurement of soil pH, but they are free to exchange into the soil solution when replaced by other cations. When H+ ions on the micelles are replaced by other cations, they join with OH- ions in solution to form water, unless the soil solution is acidic.

How it works:
auto pH control
increase in acidity due to fertilizer

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Updated: May 4, 1998. Questions/comments on site to webmaster@kurtz-fernhout.com.
Copyright © 1998 Paul D. Fernhout & Cynthia F. Kurtz.