JOURNAL OF THE INDIAN SOCIETY OF SOIL SCIENCE

[Vol. 44
hill soils have serious soil acidity problem caused
Advanced Course, Published by the author,
214

mainly by Al" ions. Hence, liming should be Wisconsin, USA.

aimed at lowering Af3+ levels to tolerable Iimits K.amprath, E.J. (1970) Proc. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. 34,
252.
for har vestng better yield of crops.
McLean, E.O., (1965) In Methods of Soil
Part 11, (C.A. Black,
Ed.), Am. Soc. of Agron,
Analysis,
Acknowledgements
Inc, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
The authors are thankful to Dr Dipak Sarkar, Misra, U.K., Satapathy, S. & Panda, N. (1989) J. Indian
Head Regional Centre, NBSS & LUP, Calcutta for
Soc. Soil Sci. 31, 22.
providing necessary facilities and Dr . Rajeev Nair, K.M & Chamuah, G.S. (1993) J. Indian Soc.
Srivastava, Scientist, for statstical analysis of data.
Soil Sci. 41, 331.
Panda, N. (1987)J. Indian Soc. Soi/ Sci. 35, 568.
Peech,
M., Cowan, R.L. & Baker, J.H (1962) Proc.
References
Soil
Sci. Soc. Am. 26, 37.
Beinroth, F.H (1982) Geoderma, 21, l.
Black, C.A. (1965)Methods of'Soil Analysis, Am. Soc.
of Agron. Inc., Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
Coleman, N.T., Weed, S.B. & McCracken, RJ. (1959)
Proc. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. 23, 146.
Duchaufour, Ph. & Souchier, B. (1980) C.R. Acad.
Sci. Paris, 4, 391.

Jackson, M.l. (1966) Soil Chemical Analysis -

Pradhan, H.R. & Khera, M.S. (1976) Bu//. Indian Soc.

Soil Sci. 11, 279.
Pratt, P.F. & Blair, F.L. (1961) Soil Sci. 91, 357.
Schnitzer, M &.Skinner, S.LM (1963) Soil Sci. 98,
197.
Thomas, G.W. (1961)
2, 364.

Trans. 7th int. Congr. Soil Sci.,

JOf4rnal of tbe Indian Society of Sotl Scienc; VoL .U, No.2, pp 214-219 (1996)
Recezved October 199./; Accepted January 1996

Prediction of Cation Exchange Capacity from Clay and Organic

Carbon of Some Smectite and KaoliniteRich Soils
A SUBBA RAO, Ch. SRINNASA RAO AND S.K. PAL*
Indian Institute of Soil Science, Z-6, Zone-I, Maharona Pratap Nagar, Bhopal, MP., 462011
Abstract: With the object of predicting cation exchange capacity (CEC) from the contents of
clay and organic carbon, soils were grouped into classes on the basis of their clay and organic
carbon contents. In each class, multiple regression equations were worked out between organic
carbon and clay and CEC. Using average CEC, percentage of organic carbon and clay and
partial regression coefficients of the latter parameters, the relative contribution of clay and
organic carbon to CEC was estimated. The CEC can be predicted with reasonable accuracy
from the content of organic carbon and clay of the two groups of soils. Contribution of clay was
more to CEC in the smectitic soils, whereas organic carbon contributed more in the kaolinitic
soils. Irrespective of soils, the contribution of clay or organic carbon to CEC increased with
their contents. (Key words: Cation exchange capacity, smectitic soils, kaoltnttto soils,
contribution to CEC)

* Prumt
.

Bcngal

oddress: National Agricultura) Research Project, Hill Zone, Kalimpong, Darjeelng District, West

215

PREDICTION OF CATION EXCHANGE CAPACITY OF SOILS

1996]

Canon exchange capacty (CEC) of a soil is depen

dent on the clay and organic carbon contents of
the soil. The relative contrbuton of clay and or
ganic carbn to CEC is likely to vary with the pH,
amount and nature of clay and organic carbon.
These are well known, But, how far CEC can be
preclicted from clay and organic carbon in smectite
dominated Vertisols and Vertic Ustochrepts and
kaolinite domnated Inceptisols and Alfisols is the
main point in this communicaffon.
J\fatcrials and Methods
Samples for this study were obtained from a
project aimed at delineation of a large number of
benchmark soils of India, according to their
potassium supplying power, Five soil series from
Vertisols and Vertic Ustochepts dominant in
smectite type of clay and eight soil series from
Inceptisols and Alfisols dominantly kaolinitic with
extensive occurrence in several states of India were
employed (Table 1 & 2). Twentyfve selected.soil
samples from each series were analysed for
mechanical compostion, CEC, exchangeable bases
and exchange acidity .. The CEC of the Vertisols
and Vertic Ustochrepts was estimated by NaOAc
tPH 8.2) and those of red soils by ammonium
acetate (pH 7.0) methocl The effectve CEC ofthe
Inceptisols and Alfisols was computed by summing
exchangeable bases and exchange acidity. Organic
carbn content was estimated by rapid chromic acid
oxdation method; pH (1 : 2), EC and calcium
Table l. Characteristics ofthe soils
pH
Soil group
No. of soil
1:2
samples

carbonate were determined by the commonly

followed methods (Jackson 196S).
The
mineralogical composition of soils (Table 2) are
from Sekhon et al. (1992).
Regression equations were worked out be
tween CEC as the dependent variable and organic
carbon (%) and clay (%) as the independent vari
ables. For carrying out regression analysis smectite
and kaolinite dominated soils were grouped into
four classes; < 20, 2040, 4050 and > 50 per cent
clay and < 10, 1020, 2030 and > 30 per cent clay,
respectively. On the basis of organic carbon,
smectite soils were grouped into 2 classes (< 0.5
and > 0.5%) while kaolinite dominated soils were
grouped into four classes (< 0.5, 0.51.0, 1.01.5
and 1.52.0%). Both simple and multiple regres
sion equations were computed (Gomez & Gomez
1984). Relative contribution of clay and the
organic
carbon to CEC of various soil groups was studied
with the help of multiple regression equation as

follows

y= e + blxl + b2Xz where

y is estimated CEC in cmol (p+) kg'', e is
constant, x1 and Xzare percentages of organic car
bon and clay, respectively, b, and b2 are partial
regression coe:fficients of the two parameters, x1
and Xi respectively.
Results and Discussion
Important characteristics of soils were
grouped according to their clay contents (Table 1)
Org.C.
(g kg1)

Clay

(%)

CEC
[cmol

(p') kg'']

J. Smectitic soils
Clay (%)
<W

11

2040

47

8.6
8.5

4060

44

>60
2. Kaolinitic soils
Clay (%)
< 10
1020
2030

23

8.2
8.1

54

5.5

>30

80
47
19

5.8
5.9

5.5

0.490.23
0.350.14
0.310.13
0.240.06

0.160.17
0.100.11

. fr.150.18
0.040.02

6.51.7
6.51.7

5.61.2
4.50.9

5.14.3
7.2%6.7
11.26.9
8.43.4

3945
5939
5023
4518

17.51.8
31.76.9
45.43.0

19.34.5
31.17.0
41.73.7

54.32.8

48.72.4

8.31.4
15.12.9

5.6:!:4.l
8.4:!:5.7

25.32.9

12.44.0

37.46.2

13.1:!:2.5

216

JOURNAL OF THE lNDIAN SOCIETY OF

son, SCIENCE

Table 2. Mineralog)' ofthe soil clays

Soil series
Kaolitic

Classification

Mineralogical composition

[Vol. 44

Balisah

Kharbona

Lidder

Kodad
Tyamagondalu
Vijayapura
KumbhaveS
Nedumangad
Smectitic
Sarol"
Kamliakheri
Pemberty
Pithvajal
Shendvada

Fluventc Ustochrept
Typic Haplaquept
Dystrochrept
Typic Paleustalf
Oxic Paleustalf
Oxic Haplustalf
Fluventic Ustropept
Oxc Dystropept

Kaolinite, IDite, Smectite, Venniculite

Kaolinite, IDite, Smectite, Vermculite
Kaolinite, Illite, Chlorte, Smectite, Vermiculite
Kaolinite, Illite, Vermiculite, Smectite
Kaolinite, Allophanes, Illite, Vermiculite
Kaolinite, Illite, Allophanes, Vermiculite
Kaolinite, Illite, Vermiculite
Kaolinite, Allophanes, Illite, Vermiculite

Typic Chromustert
Vertic Ustochrept
Vertic Ustochrept
Vertic Ustochrept

Smectite, Illte, Vermiculite

Smectite, Vermiculite
Smectite, Illte, Kaolinite, Allophanes
Smectite, Allophanes, Chlorite, Kaolinite
Smectite, Illite, Kaolnite, Allophanes

Typic Chromustert

Sekbon et al (1992)

and the mineralogy of soil clays is presented in

table 2. Vertisols and Vertic Ustochrepts were
sligbtly alkaline to moderately alkalne, calcareous,
nonsaline and Iow to medium in organic carbon
content Inceptisols and Alfisols were moderately
to slightly acidc, noncalcareous, nonsaline and
medium to high in organic carbon status.
The partial regression coe:fficients were
greater for organic carbon in soils having Iower
amounts of clay, whereas in soils having higher

amounts of clay, the coe:fficients for clay were

greater (Table 3). The contribution of organic car
bon as manifested in partial regression coe:fficients
was larger for organic carbon in kaolinitc soils than
that in smectitic soils. Sorne of the relationships
computed for organic carbon and clay wth CEC
were not significant either when the number of
samples was small and/or at the extremes of the
ranges of clay and organic carbon (not shown).
Smectite domnant soils, having less than 20 per

Table 3. Relationship of CEC wth organic carbon and clay contents

Soil group

No. of soils

Regression equation

R2

47

44

CEC = 2.32 + 2.97 ~ + 0.99 'S

CEC = 7.51 1.02 Xi+ 0.77 'S

0.88
0.41

38
87

CEC =4.37 + 2.91~+0.79 JS

CEC = 3.71+1.09.Xi + 0.84 JS

0.89
0.91

111
42

CEC = 0.68 + 4.5 Xi + 0.22 JS

CEC =4.68 + 6.92 ~ + 0.092 "2

0.50
0.43

<10

54

1020
2030

47

CEC =0.46 + 8.63 ~ + 0.197 'S

CEC = 3.05 + 6.47 ~ + 0.047 'S
CEC = 0.033 + 3.9 ~ + 0.32 "2

0.85
0.60
0.55

!. Slflctic sGils
Clay(%)
2040

4060

Org. C (%)

<0.5
>0.5
JI. Kaolinitic soils
Org. C (%)
<0.5
0.5LO
Clay (%)

80

Note: x, and 'S are organic carbon (%) and clay (%), respectively and the R2 values are significant

...

1996]

PREDICTION OF CATION EXCHANGE CAPACTIY OF SOILS

cent clay are small in number (11) and they may

not represent the Vertisols and Vertic Ustochrepts
on overall basis. Similarly, kaolinitic soils with
greater than 30 per cent clay are not considerable
(19) and may not represent the typical kaolinitic
soils as a whole. Kaolinitic soils having organic
carbon in ranges 1.0 to 1.5 and 1.5 to 2.0 per cent
are also few (13 and 17, respectively). So the Iack
of positive relationship between clay and CEC can
be expected in these soils.
Inclusion of other soil cbaracteristics like EC,
pH and C'.aC03 in the multiple regression equations
did not appreciably improve the multiple correla
tion coefficients {R2) (Table 4). Thus, as expected
and observed by earlier workers, clay and organic
carbn contributed to CEC significantly.
Table 4. Relationship
Soil group

Smeotitic soils
Clay (%)
<20
2~0

4060

of CEC with various soil properties

217

effect of each other. This is more so in the case of

smectite soil clay.
The following equations preclict CEC from
clay in smectitic soils and from organic carbon in
kaolinitic soils.

Smectitic soil
Clay (2040%), CEC = 0.747 + 0.958 clay (r2 =
0.87**)
Clay (4060%), CEC = 8.747 + 0.730 clay (r2 =
0.65**)
Kaolinittc soil
Clay (< 10%), CEC = 1.041 + 8.87 org. C (r2 =
0.84**)
Clay (1020%), CEC = 3.71 + 6.52 org, e (r2 =
0.60**)
Clay (2030%), CEC = 7.88 + 4.07 org. e (r2 =
0.49**)
R2

Regression equation

CEC =61.41+6.66 Xi+ 2.98 JS4.21~+1.11X.e+1.15

X5
CEC = 12.33 1.49 Xi+ 1.98 JS 0.58 ~ + 0.22 x4 + 0.94 x5
CEC = 22.02 1.12 Xi + 0.4 JS 0.59 ~ 0.41 X.e + 0.69 X5

0.49**
0.99**
0.54**

CEC = 50.284.1 Xi 5.2 JS 9.8 ~ + 0.26 X.e+ 0.66 X5

CEC = 16.611.46Xi+2.29
JS 2.26 ~ + 0.2 x4 + 0.81

0.93**
0.92**

Org. e(%)

<05
>0.5
Kaolinitic soils

x5

Org. e(%)

<0.5
0.51.0
1.52.0
Clay (%)
< 10
1020

2030

CEC=0.51+4.38"S+3.47~
+ 0.26 X5
CEC = 4.98 0.3 "i + 3.79 JS + 7.24 }'3 + 0.12 x5
CEC =21.44 + 3.74 Xi+ 6.49 JS + 8.99 ~ 0.078

x5

CEC = 1.86 + 0.22 "i1.51JS+9.14

~ + 0.22 x5
CEC = 1.32 0.16 Xi+ 8.08 JS + 6.27 ~ + 0.18 x5
CEC =9.99+
1.45 X +4.08 JS + 4.14 ~ + 0.34 x5

0.52**
0.46**
0.48**
0.85**
0.62**
0.62**

Sote: x1 pH~ 'S EC; ~ Org. C.(%); x4CaC03 (%); x5Clay (%)
A strong association between clay and CEC
was observed in smec:tite soils (r = 0.94 and 0.80)
of classes with clay 2040 and 4060 per cent. The
relationship between clay and CEC in soils having
less than 20 per cent clay was not significant Simi
larly, in kaolinitic soils organic carbon appears to
have greater contribution to the CEC with r values
of 0.92. 0.77, 0.70, respectively, for classes < 10,
10-20 and 2030 per cent clay, The adsorption and
linkage of humus with minerals may also mask the

In 40 su"rface soils of Philippines, the relative

contribution of the organic carbon and clay frac
tions to the CEC ofthe soils was 37.6 and 62.4 per
cent, respectively and 60% of the variation in
CEC's could be attributed to the combined varia
tion in organic C and clay contents (Sahrawat
1983). For sandy soils with low clay content, a
highly significant correlation between CEC and or
ganic fraction of soil was observed by Kamprath
and Welch (1962).

JOURNAL OF THE INDIAN SOCIETY OF SOIL SCIENCE

218

[Vol. 44

Using average CEC, percentages of organic

carbon and clay and partal regression coefficients
of organic carbon and clay, the relatve contribu
tion of clay and organic carbon to CEC was esti
mated (Table 5). In smectite soils, organic carbon
contributed negligbly, whereas clay largely con
tributed (93.3 to 100%). Tbus in these soils the
contribution of clay to CEC far exceeded that of
organic carbon. These :findings are in accordance
with those of Black (1973) who has shown that

CEC of soils is dependent on the nature and

amount of elay fraction of the soils due to decrease
in particle size and increase in specific surface area.
In kaolinitic soils, the organic carbon contributed
greatly to the CEC. The contribution of clay varied
from 13.3 to 66.0 per cent, with the contribution
progressively being decreased with increase in or
ganic carbon. On the other hand, the contribution
of organic carbon increased with ts content, the
per cent contrbution varying from 34.0 to above
85.0. Yuan et al. (1967) also reported'that acidic
Table 5. Relative contrbution of organic carbon and Mollisols and Entisols with less than 13 cmol (p+)
clay to the CEC of smectitic and kaolnitic kg" CEC, the contribution of organic fraction to
soil
CEC was from 66.4 to 96.5 per cent, where as
Soil group
Average
Relative contribution higher CEC was associated with lower contribu
CEC
tion of organic fraction and increased contribution
[cmol(p) kg"] Org. e
Clay
of clay.
Employing the regression equations given in
l. Smectitic soils
table 3, CEC values were predicted in sorne se
Clay (%)
Iected samples using the observed clay and organic
2040
5.8
93.9
31.l
4060
100.0
carbon contents. The observed and predicted val
41.7
Org. e(%)
ues of CEC given in table 6 indicate good agree
<0.5
42.4
3.0
97.0
ment between the two measures.
>0.5
34.7
2.3
98.1
This study thus, shows statistically signifi
JI. Kaolinitic soils
cant relationships of organic carbon and clay with
Clay(%)
CEC in both smectite and kaolinite dominant soils,
< 10
72.6
5.6
26.9
Cation exchange capacity can be predicted with
1020
8.4
87.1
13.3
reasonable accuracy from the contents of organic ,
2030
65.5
12.4
35.3
carbon (in soil with low clay) and clay for soils .
Org. e(%)
having high clay.
5.2
<0.5
34.0
66.0
0.5LO

12.4

67.0

33.0

Table 6. Observed and predicted values of CEC in sorne selected samples

Soil series

Clay content

(%)

Organic
carbon (%)

CEC (cmol (p+) kg")

Predicted
Observed

Variation (:!::)
'(%)

Smectitic soils
Sarol
Kamliakheri
Pemberty
Pithvajal
Shcndvada
Vijayapura
Liddar
Kharbona
Lidder
Kodad

40

54
22

29

56

14
29.6
8

20.8
6

39.1
0.54
48.2
21.8
0.70
0.78
28.5
0.33
49.6
Kaolinitic soils
6.38
0.41
0.36

1.85

15.41

0.28

3.52

1.38

13.09

0.26

3.35

40.9
49.8
20.5
29.4
47.3

4.4
3.2
+6.3
3.0
+4.9

6.1

+4.6
4.3
2.2
+ 1.2
+ 1.5

16.1

3.6
12.09
3.3

1996]

PREDICTION OF CATION EXCHANGE CAPACITY OF SOII..S

References
Black, _C.A. (1973) Soil-Plant Relationships, John
Wiley & Sons (Indian reprint), New Delhi, p. 223.
Gomez, K.A. & Gomez, A.A. (1984) Statistical
Procedures for Agricultura/ Research, John Wiley
& Sons, New York, p. 382.
Jackson, M.L. (1968) Soil Chemical Analysis, Prentice
Hall oflndia, New Delhi. pp 498.
Kamprath, E.J. & Welch, C.D. (1962) Proc. Soil Sci.

219

Soc. Am. 26, 263.

Sahrawat, K.L. (1983) Commun. Soil Sci.. PI. Anal.
14, 803.
Sekhon, G.S., Brar, MS. & Subba Rao, A. (1992)
Potassium in Sorne Benchmark Sotls of India,
PRII, Bull. 3, PRII, Gurgaon, p. 17.
Yuan, J.L., Nathan Gammon, Jr. & Leighty, R.G.
(1967) Soil Sci. 104, 123.

Journal of the Indtan Society of Soil Science, VoL 44, No.2, pp 219-223
(1996)
Rece1ved).{ay 1995; Accepted March 1996

Nitrogen Mineralization of Legume Residues in Soils in Relation to

Their Chemical Composition
J.P. SINGH AND VINOD KUMAR

Department of Soi/ Science, CCS Haryana Agricultura/ University, Hisar, Haryana, 125004
Abstract: The mineralization of N from legume residues may vary considerably depending
upon their chemical composition. The N mineralization of seven legumes (45day old) in Hisar
sandy loam (Typic Camborthid) and Kamal loam (Typic Ustochrept) soils were studied under
constant temperature (35C) and water (0.03 MPa) conditions. Pattems ofN mineralization in
both the soils from different legumes were almost similar and followed the first order kinetics.
The nitrogen mineralization potential (NJ of legumes differed significantly and ranged from
59.8 mg kg? for clusterbean to 96.9 mg kg? for green gram. The rate of N mineralization (k)
was
highest for green gram (0.199 week") and lowest for clusterbean (0.149 week"). The k values
were significantly affected by lignin to N ratio, lignin plus polyphenol to N ratio and C:N ratio
of legumes. The net amounts of N mineralized at the end of 56 days of incubation was lowest
from clusterbean amounting to 53 and 55 mg kg" and highest from green gram amounting to 96
and 99 mg kg? in Hisar and Kamal sols, respectively. The order ofN mineralization (%) from
different legumes was same in both the soils and followed the sequence : green gram > black
gram > soybean > cowpea > sesbania > sunnhemp > clusterbean. The percentage of N
mineralized was positvely correlated with total N content and negatively with C : N ratio, lignin
to N ratio, polyphenol to N ratio. However, the best chemical index of N mineralization was
found to be lgnin + polyphenol to N ratio which accounted for 84 per cent of the variation in
the percentage of legume N mineralized. (Ke.y words: Green manures, lignin, N mineraliza/ion
potential, polyphenol)
Nitrogen is the most common factor limiting crop alternatives for meeting the N requirement. As a
production. Organic materials like leaves and consequence, incorporation of crop residues in soil
residues offer sustainable and ecologically sound is becoming a common practice in severa! parts of