Base saturation

Base Saturation is a term used in soil science and agriculture to describe the proportion of the soil's cation exchange capacity (CEC) that is occupied by base cations. It is usually expressed as a percentage.

Overview

Base saturation is an important indicator of soil fertility and nutrient availability. It is used to determine the soil's ability to retain and supply nutrients to plants. The higher the base saturation, the more fertile the soil is considered to be.

The main base cations are calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), and sodium (Na). These cations are essential for plant growth and development. They are held on the soil particles and can be exchanged with other cations in the soil solution.

Calculation

The base saturation is calculated by dividing the sum of the base cations (Ca, Mg, K, and Na) by the total CEC and multiplying by 100. The result is expressed as a percentage.

Importance in Agriculture

In agriculture, base saturation is used to determine the need for lime application to increase soil pH. Soils with low base saturation are usually acidic and may require liming to increase the availability of essential nutrients.

Base saturation is also used to guide fertilizer application. Soils with high base saturation may not require additional application of base cations, while those with low base saturation may benefit from additional inputs.

See Also

• Soil pH
• Soil fertility
• Cation exchange capacity
• Base cations