The relationships between base saturation (BS) and pH were evaluated basing on three different definitions of degree of base saturation: expressing BS in terms of the total (pH 8.2), ‘effective’ and ‘actual’ cation exchange capacities. The first two approaches lead to differentiation of BS/pH curves for different cationic as well as solid phase compositions (presence of organic matter) of exchange complex. The third approach differentiated soils only in respect to cationic composition.