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Root Cation‐Exchange Capacity and the Mineral Nutrition of Eastern White Pine and Eastern Redcedar
Author(s) -
Vimmerstedt John P.
Publication year - 1968
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1968.03615995003200020035x
Subject(s) - cation exchange capacity , soil water , chemistry , botany , soil ph , pinus <genus> , kaolinite , mineralogy , soil science , geology , biology
A field study showed that redcedar ( Juniperus virginiana L.) foliage had a lower monovalent to divalent cation ratio than foliage of white pine ( Pinus strobus L.). It was hypothesized that this difference resulted from redcedar roots having a higher cation exchange capacity (CEC) than white pine roots. Greenhouse experiments with seedlings grown on natural soils of contrasting fertility, and synthetic soils composed of crushed quartz and kaolinite, failed to support the hypothesis. The experiment with natural soils showed no interspecific difference in root CEC. In the experiment with synthetic soils, white pine roots had the higher CEC but redcedar had the lower monovalent‐divalent cation ratio. It was concluded that root CEC was not the factor causing the difference in cation ratios between species and that cation ratio in the soil had a strong influence on cation ratio in the trees.