Please wash the soil with ethyl alcohol( not water )  to remove interference of soluble salts ( preferably sodium ions)  while determining the CEC of soils having such EC. Please consult the relevant reference of Abrol et al., (1975) , Soil Science 120: 30-36

Please wash the soil with ethyl alcohol( not water )  to remove interference of soluble salts ( preferably sodium ions)  while determining the CEC of soils having such EC. Please consult the relevant reference of Abrol et al., (1975) , Soil Science 120: 30-36

Dear Sara,

I suggest you to follow the method of Bower et al. (1952) that gives the most reliable CEC for salt-affected (saline-sodic) soils. I attach herewith PDF copy of an article by Ocampo and Pratt (1997) who compared three different methods of estimating CEC for saline-sodic soils and found the method of Bower et al. (1952) to be most reliable.

I hope you find this input interesting and useful for your work.

Besides two great responses, please check the following researchgate links and PDF attachments also.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/40174257_A_rapid_method_to_determine_cation_exchange_capacity_and_exchangeable_bases_in_calcareous_gypsiferous_saline_and_sodic_soils

Good luck

Article A rapid method to determine cation exchange capacity and exc...

Thank you for replying.

Dear Anoop

I am so surprised you've mentioned to wash soil by ethyl alcohol. We know that by using ethyl alcohol, EC isn't decreased. The best reason is related to dielectric constant.

One explanation could be that you have CaSO4 present.  Is that possible ? Another is that the soils contain a source of acid: what is the pH?

 References attached by Dr.Kundu and Dr.Arvind Singh (3.pdf) need attention.Washing 2 times with water in highly saline soil can be attempted before CEC estimation by Bower et .al 1952 method.However,the problem of hydrolysis of exchangeable cations and dissolution of CaCO3 or gypum present in the soil need to be examined.With small number of saline soils,the first two methods(out of the three methods tested in the reference) given in the reference provided by Dr.Kundu can be compared.Determination of exchangeable cations by ammonium acetate method and deducting the cations estimated in saturation extract appears less problematic( please see the two ferences mentioned).For sodic soils one can go for Bower et al 1952 method.

Sara, removal of soluble salts is mandatory , either before the analysis of CEC of soil( preferably with water or  diluted alcohol , later works better as used in Bower procedure ) , or you can deduct the values of water soluble cations from the values of cations obtained from the ammonium acetate  extractant . ..Principle will remain the same , regardless of method you use...In salt affected soils, usually we use saturation paste 

Dear Paul

Thank you for replying. There aren't any CaSO4 in the soils. pH of soils is around 7.8

about the answers of Annangi

I've read the paper but the salinity in the paper is lower than our samples. and also I washed the soils twice by water to decrease EC before measuring CEC by Bower method.  You think this procedure is validate and it is supposed to get good results?

Dr.(Ms) Sara,I believe that two washings with water before CEC determination by Bower et.al (1952) method is O.K in high saline soils .Washing with water may hydrolyze cations present on the exchange complex and also may solubilze CaCO3 present in the soil.As I understand ,you are not estimating exchangeable cations after washing with water as the two processes mentioned  above may interfere with exchangeable cation estimation.

There are several methods for CEC determination of saline-sodic soils. The method referred above by Dr. Anoop Kumar Srivastava (washing with ethyl alcohol)  is best for your situation. 

Dear Abdul,

in above, I've mentioned why method referred by Dr. Anoop is not suitable. 

ethyl alcohol can't be decreased salinity. You can try.