cation exchange capacity (CEC), the amount of positively charged ions a soil can hold, is a significant factor in the degree to which soil nutrients are available to the vine. CEC is determined by soil texture, the amount of organic matter in the soil, and the amount and type of clay. Sandy soil has a low CEC. Fine-textured soil such as clay, with a high level of organic matter, tends to have a high CEC.
© Jancis Robinson and Oxford University Press 1994, 1999, 2006, 2015
