Why is cation-exchange capacity (CEC) an important soil characteristic?
A) CEC is an indication of the soil permeability; the lower the CEC the higher the permeability.
B) CEC is used to infer soil texture without having to use a soil texture triangle.
C) CEC is an indirect way to measure soil pH; it indicates whether the soil is neutral, alkaline, or acidic.
D) CEC is a measure of soil fertility; the higher the CEC the higher the soil fertility.
Question 2
Carbon dioxide concentrations in soil are ________ than in the atmosphere because of ________.
A) lower; transpiration B) lower; plant photosynthesis
C) higher; decay of dead plants and animals D) higher; ongoing respiration in the ground