The Cation Exchange Capacity, or the CEC#, is a measure of the total negative charges in the soil that absorb nutrient cations (positive charges, nutrients).  Remember that old adage “Opposites Attract”?

Nutrient Cations

Microbes

Team work making the dream work! (See the hiker as the microbe (negatively charged) and the backpack as the nutrient (cation)

Three components of soil:

Sand - typically carries the lowest CEC number

Silt - typically carries a higher CEC number than sand, but less than clay

Clay - will usually carry the highest CEC number

What are some of the positively charged actions found in soil that are requirements for proper growth and development of anything with a root system?

Nitrogen (N) - important for plant growth, plant food processing and the creation of chlorophyll

Phosphorous (P) - promotes growth and winter hardiness and often hastens maturity

Potassium (K) - improves root growth and improves drought resistance 

Calcium (Ca) - strengthens cell walls

Magnesium (Mg) - central core of the chlorophyll molecule

Boron (B) - cell wall formation, maintenance of of structural and functional integrity of biological membranes, movement of sugar or energy into growing parts of plants, pollination and seed sets.

Copper (Cu) - required for many enzymatic activities in plants and for chlorophyll and seed production

Iron (Fe) - involved in the synthesis of chlorophyll, and it is essential for the maintenance of chloroplast structures and function

Manganese (Mn) - an important micronutrient for plant growth and development and sustains metabolic roles within different cell compartments.

All of the above fall into the nutrient category.   Some will fall into the "macro" category, while others will fall into the "micro" category.  However, all of the nutrients listed above are essential for proper soil health, which makes for the healthiest lawns and landscapes possible.

When it comes to lawns and turf grasses, the ideal range for the CEC# is between 15 and 25.  Any soil with a CEC# under 15 can be considered deficient and when the CEC# is less than 5, it can be considered "extremely poor".  Numbers that low will struggle to support turf grasses, let alone any other plant life.

When you get your soil test and all of your macro and micro nutrient levels are spot on, but your CEC# shows a 5, even with all your nutrient levels in the right place, your nutrients are not being delivered with the efficiency they should.  Your nutrients are being lost in the soil (leaching), which leaves your lawn and landscaping looking very deficient and unhealthy.

How to increase your CEC#

Microbes - adding microbes are the best way to increase your CEC#

Benefits of adding microbes to your soil to increase your CEC#

• Microbes are what carry the soil nutrients through the root system through a process called the Rhizophagy Cycle - See Dr. James White, Rutgers University

• The majority of the microbes carry a negative charge, the majority of the nutrients carry a positive charge.   Remember that opposites attract.

Why adding Wind River Microbes makes even more sense

• ZERO refrigeration of the products while being stored

• Extremely stable and efficient

• Decomposes organic matter into a rich carbon source

• Unleashes aggregate bound phosphorous

• Improve nitrogen fixation

• breaks down heavy metals & chemical contaminants

• reduce salinity within the soil

• oxygenates soil and plant roots

• increase water retention

• release constricted nutrients

• improve fertilizer efficiency

• enhances root development

• reduce hardpan and crusting

• inhibits soil borne pathogens

• balances the soil ecosystem

When you get your soil test and all of your nutrients, both macro and micro, are in the correct levels and your CEC# is in that ideal range between 15-25, all of your nutrients are being utilized and being delivered by the microbes in the most efficient manner possible.  That is when your lawn and landscape will be beautiful and much easier to maintain.