Electrical Conductivity Meter For Soil
Portable conductivity meters for soil are the next step up.
Electrical conductivity meter for soil. Soil electrical conductivity ec is a measure of the amount of salts in salinity of soil soil. They bring laboratory accuracy to the field. For electrical conductivity sensor is placed in the soil at the desired depth. The value is calculated from bulk ec and volumetric water content measurements.
The electrical conductivity of an aqueous solution is its ability to conduct an electrical current. Electrical conductivity ec tds meters conductivity meters measure the number of ions mobile within a liquid the most accurate way of determining the salinity of a soil. Soil pore water sampler is used to extract pore water from the soil at a specific depth. Ec is measured in units called seimens per unit area e g.
It affects crop yields crop suitability plant nutrient availability and activity of soil microorganisms which influence key soil processesincluding the emission of greenhouse gases such as. An ec meter is used to measure the ec of the water. Soil electrical conductivities were typically reported in mmho cm so 1 mmho cm equals 1 ms cm. Have high conductivity soil electrical conductivity correlates very strongly with particle size and soil texture.
Units of electrical conductivity. The si unit for electrical conductance is the siemen s so electrical conductivity has units of s m. Plants take in nutrients in ion form ie nitrogen phosphorus and potassium ions npk and the total amount of ions in a soil solution can indicate potential nutrients. Some have a simple two button design while others have detailed menu access.
These meters vary in design and function. Units used in older literature are mho cm mho is reciprocal ohm which have the same value as s cm. Since water holding capacity is intimately linked to crop yields there is enormous potential. Electrical conductivity ec is a measurement of the dissolved material in an aqueous solution which relates to the ability of the material to conduct electrical current through it.
It is an important indicator of soil health. The electrical conductivity is an important parameter used to estimate the level of dissolved salts in water and soil. Most soil portable conductivity meters are able to test more than one parameter at once. Soils prone to drought or excessive water will show variations in soil texture that can be delineated using soil electrical conductivity.
With a compact size single button operation and automatic calibration soil test is an excellent choice for taking direct conductivity measurements in soil.