Capillary Pore 
A pore which retains water after wetting and natural drainage in the soil has occurred. Where a soil has retained the maximum amount of water in its capillary pores, it is said to be at Field Capacity.
Capillary Porosity
Water held within small pores within a soil and which is potentially available to the plant.
Carbonation
A chemical weathering process whereby the action of acid rain reacts with calcium carbonate containing minerals (e.g. chalk). The carbonation process starts with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere dissolving in water (rain or groundwater), which forms carbonic acid (H2O + CO2 = H2CO3). When dissolved in water carbonic acid it breaks down into hydrogen ions (H+) and bicarbonate ions (HCO3-), increasing soil acidity.
This weak acid reacts with minerals in the soil that contain calcium carbonate (CaCO3). This reaction gradually dissolves the mineral to produce calcium bicarbonate (Ca(HCO3)2), wh
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Cation Exchange Capacity
The total amount of positively charged atoms or molecules, called ions, held by a soil. Many plant nutrients are available as positively charged ions and so a soil with a high cation exchange capacity, or CEC, will be relatively fertile and nutrient rich. This relative abundance of nutrients within a soil with a high CEC makes them available over an extended period of time reducing the need for the addition of many micro-nutrients as a supplementary fertiliser.
Clay particles and organic matter have primarily negatively charged surfaces, and therefore can attract and retain significant amou
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Charcoal
Wood and bone charcoal used as an early practice of improving heavier soils by mixing it into the soil. It must not be regarded as a fertiliser, but simply as a purifying absorbent, which tends to aerate, purify and sweeten the soil, it improves the drainage, makes the playing surface firm and clean, fines down turf, and eliminates moss . (Source: Beale, E. (1924), Lawns for Sports, p190). The meaning of fines down turf is that of making downland turf be composed of more finer grass species.
Chemical Weathering
A process which involves chemicals as agents of change on a soil. Acidic rain, which arises naturally from the dissolving of carbon dioxide in water, will gradually weather rock. Hydrolysis, Hydration, Oxidation and Reduction are all chemical weathering processes.
Chlorite
A 2:1 and 2:1:1 clay mineral. It is typically found in argillaceous sedimentary rocks, typically sandy or chalky (calcium carbonate). The clay mineral is a secondary component of these rocks.
Choke Layer
An American term for Blinding Layer.
Clay
Mineral particles with a diameter of less than 0.002mm; being plate like in shape. There are two main scales:
1. The International Scale which categorises clay particles as being than less than 0.002mm in diameter.
2. The US (Udden–Wentworth) scale which categorises clay particles as between 0.00098mm to 0.0039mm, although this scale is not used within turf care industry classifications.
There are different types of clay mineral (being hydrous aluminium silicates) which form clay particles. These can be classified into mineral groups, mostly according to their layered structure, bei
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Clay Loam Soil Class
A soil with a relatively higher percentage of clay, although fairly well balanced with similar quantities of silt and sand. An example of a loam soil is one that contains the following: 40% sand, 25% silt, 35% clay. It provides for good moisture and nutrient retention and is suitable for use in cricket squares and some tennis courts where a well consolidated hard and fast surface is needed during the summertime. Where rolling doesn’t take place then it may be suitable for some general lawn situations as well. When wet the soil will be slightly sticky to touch, although this make it well suited
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