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Understanding Base Saturation in Soil

Base saturation is the ratio of exchangeable bases to cation exchange capacity, expressed as a percentage. It indicates the proportion of cation exchange sites occupied by various cations and is crucial for plant growth and soil classification. High base saturation correlates with better nutrient availability and lower toxicity from aluminum, while low base saturation can lead to acidification and reduced plant health.

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31 views10 pages

Understanding Base Saturation in Soil

Base saturation is the ratio of exchangeable bases to cation exchange capacity, expressed as a percentage. It indicates the proportion of cation exchange sites occupied by various cations and is crucial for plant growth and soil classification. High base saturation correlates with better nutrient availability and lower toxicity from aluminum, while low base saturation can lead to acidification and reduced plant health.

Uploaded by

Dodi Mivanto
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© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Base saturation

What Is Base Saturation?

The ratio of the quantity of exchangeable bases to


the cation exchange capacity. The value of the
base saturation varies according to whether the
cation exchange capacity includes only the salt
extractable acidity (see cation exchange
capacity) or the total acidity determined at pH 7
or 8. Often expressed as a percent.
◼ The concentration of potassium, magnesium,
and calcium expressed as a percentage of the
cation exchange capacity is referred to as the
percent base saturation. Values for percent base
saturation should be within the range of 1-5%,
10-15%, and 60-80% for potassium, magnesium,
and calcium, respectively.
◼ Base saturation refers to the proportion of the
cation exchange sites in the soil that are
occupied by the various cations (hydrogen,
calcium, magnesium, potassium).
◼ The surfaces of soil minerals and organic matter
have negative charges that attract and hold the
positively charged cations.
◼ Cations with one positive charge (hydrogen,
potassium, sodium) will occupy one negatively
charged site. Cations with two positive charges
(calcium, magnesium) will occupy two sites.
◼ Base saturation does not have any relation to
fertilizer recommendations for the negatively
charged nutrient ions, such as phosphate,
nitrate and sulfate.
Base Saturation
Fraction of CEC occupied by base cations

(Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+)

◼ %Base Saturation
(sum exchangeable bases)/CEC) x 100
◼ Remainder of CEC occupied by acidic cations
(H+, Al3+)
◼ %Base Saturation directly related to pH
◼ adsorbed cations are in equilibrium with solution
cations
◼ high pH - Al3+ precipitated as Al(OH)3
◼ low pH - Al3+ replaces Bases, which are
leached out
pH 7 - BS = 100%
pH 4 - BS = 0%
◼ Plant Growth
- reduced as Base Saturation declines
fewer nutrients, more toxic Al3+
◼ Soil Classification - > 35% = Alfisol
< 35% = Ultisol
◼ Lime Requirement -
- amout of lime necessary to lower
pH to acceptable level
- increases with low BS
◼ Acid Rain resistance -
only soils with low base saturation produce
acidified lakes
◼ High B.S.
Al(OH)3 + [-]..Ca2+ + H2SO4 = Ca2+ + SO42- + [-
]..Al3+

◼ Low B.S.
Al(OH)3 + [-]..Al3+ + H2SO4 = H+ + Al3+ + SO42-
+ [-]..Al3+

◼ releases toxic low pH, toxic Al3+ leachate to lakes

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