Principles of Soil Sciences

(Practical)

Practical 7: Soil salinity measurement

(Electrical Conductivity)
Soil and Water Science Department
College of Agriculture By: Hajar Ameen Ameen
University of Duhok Hajar.ameen@uod.ac
Objectives

• To be familiar with the definition of soil salinity and

Electrical Conductivity

• To know how to determine the salinity of soil by Electrical

Conductivity meter

• To know the effects of soil salinity on both soil and plant

growth
 Introduction
Soil salinity: refers to the concentration of soluble salt in soil.

 All soils contain some salts, which are

essential for plant growth.

 However, excess salts will hinder plant

growth by affecting the soil-water balance.

 Soils containing excess salts occur both

naturally and as a result of soil use and
management.

 Salt-affected soils are largely found in the

arid and semiarid region, where the
annual rainfall is low, allowing salts to
accumulate in the soil profile.
 Introduction

The ions generally associated with salinity are:

 Ca+2, Mg+2, K+, Na+, (cations),

 NO3-, SO4-, Cl-, HCO3-, OH- (anions).

 These salts exist as NaCl, Na2CO3, CaCl2, and MgSO4…etc.

 Soil salinity measurement

 Soil salinity measured by Electrical conductivity Meter

Electrical conductivity (EC) is the ability of a
material to transmit (conduct) an electrical
current.
 The EC is based on the concept that the
electrical current carried by soil solution
increase as the salts concentration increase.

 It is normally measured by extracting the soil sample with

water (1:1, 1.2 or 1:5 soil: water ratio) or in a saturated paste
extract (ECe).

 It measured in units of dS/m = mmhos/cm

 Soil salinity measurement
 Conductivity is the reciprocal of resistivity, meaning the higher
the conductivity, the lower the resistivity.

while

 Normally values of EC in soil solution is small and reported as mmhos/cm

So, EC is commonly expressed in units of mmhos/cm (millimhos per

centimeter) which is equal to 1 dS/m (decisiemens per meter)
 Effects of soil salinity on soil and plant growth
1. Excess salts affect plant growth by:

• Direct toxicities; e.g sodium, boron,

and chloride. Excess sodium
accumulation in leaves can cause leaf
burn.

• Reducing the availability of water by

lowering the osmotic potential of water
in soil.
 Effects of soil salinity on soil and plant growth

2. Soils with a high concentration of sodium salts (sodic

conditions) have additional problems, such as poor soil
structure, poor infiltration or drainage.

Ca2+
Na+
Ca2+

Flocculated Dispersed

Small hydrated Large hydrated

ionic radius ionic radius
 Effects of soil salinity on soil and plant growth

3. Soil microorganism activity declines as EC

increases. This impacts important soil processes
such as decomposition of organic matter and
nutrient cycling.
Determination of salinity (soluble salt) in 1:2 (soil: water extract)
Procedure:
1. Prepare a 1:2 soil:water suspension. Weigh 40 g air-dry soil (< 2 mm)
into a beaker or conical flask and add 80 mL deionised water or
distilled water. (Other amounts can be used e.g. 50 g:100 mL.)
Mechanically shake for 20 - 30 minute.
Determination of salinity (soluble salt) in 1:2 (soil: water extract)

Procedure:

2. Transfer the soil suspension into

funnel with filter paper in place.

3. Transfer the extract that passed

though filter paper into a 50mL
beak.
Determination of salinity (soluble salt) in 1:2 (soil: water extract)
Procedure:

4. Calibrate the conductivity meter using the standard KCl

solution following manufacturer’s instructions. Be sure to
rinse the probe thoroughly before and after calibration using
Demonized water or Distilled water

• Standard buffer solution.

• Or can be prepared by dissolving

0.7456 g KCl in DW and transfer to 1L
flask, mix well, and make volume to 1 L
with DW. This solution gives an
electrical conductivity of (1.413 dS/m )
at 25 °C.
Determination of salinity (soluble salt) in 1:2 (soil: water extract)
Procedure:

5. Immerse the conductivity probe in the solution, and take the

reading. Make sure that the level of solution must be higher
than the hole on the PVC sleeve. Tap the probe repeatedly on
the bottom of the beaker and stir it to ensure that no air
bubbles are trapped inside the sleeve.
 Considerations
 The electrical conductivity of a solution is affected by temperature.
Generally the electrical conductivity of a solution increases with
temperature at a rate of approximately 1.9% per 1C° increase.

 The electrical conductivity is measured at 25C°. Many meters have

automatic temperature correction (ATC), which calculates the EC
taking into account temperature, if your meter does not have this
feature, carry out the following calculation:

EC25 = ECt × ft

Where: EC 25 = the EC of the sample at 25C°

ECt = the EC sample at t C°
ft = correction factor, usually obtained from special table
 Electrical conductivity and salt concentration
The relationship between electrical conductivity and salt
concentration is only approximate. General relationships that have
been established are (Rhoades, 1996):

 Total dissolved solids (mg/L) ≅ 640 x EC (dS/m).

 Osmotic pressure bars (at 25C°) ≅ 0.36 x EC (dS/m).
 Total cation (or anion) concentration (meq/L) ≅ 10 x EC (dS/m).
 mg NO3 - -N/kg of soil ≅ EC1:1(dS/m) x 140

Conversions

1 dS/m (decisiemens per meter) = 1 mmhos/cm (millimhos per centimeter)

1 dS/m (decisiemens per meter) = 1000 μS/cm (microsiemens per centimeter)
 Interpretation
Table1. Electrical conductivity measurement and salinity classes of a 1:2 soil:water
extract. (Dellavalle, 1992).
Electrical
Conductivity Salinity class Crop response
(mmhos cm-1) at 25 C)
< 0.40 Non saline Almost negligible effects
Yields of very sensitive crops
0.40-0.80 Very slightly saline
restricted
0.81-1.20 Slightly saline Yields of most crops restricted
Only tolerant crops yield Can
1.21-1.60 Moderately saline
survive
Only very tolerant crops yield
1.61-3.20 Strongly saline
can survive
> 3.20 Very strongly saline It is hard for plant to survive
Determination of salinity (soluble salt) in Saturated Paste Extract

 Saturation percentage: it means the maximum capacity of soil to

hold water. That is mean; all pore spaces in the soil are filled with
water.

 The saturated paste method provides a more representative

measurement of total soluble salts in the soil solution because it
more closely approximates the water content of the soil under
field conditions. Saturated paste measurements, however, are
more time-consuming.
Determination of salinity (soluble salt) in Saturated Paste Extract

Procedure:

1. Weigh 200g air-dry soil (< 2-mm) into a plastic container or beaker.

2. Slowly add distilled water, and mix with a spatula until the
properties soil saturation paste appear:

• Soil surface glistens as it reflects light.

• Slides freely and cleanly off a spatula.
• Flows slightly when the container is tipped to a 45o from horizontal.
• Does not have free-standing water on the surface of the paste.
• Consolidated easily by tapping (brought together easily)
Determination of salinity (soluble salt) in Saturated Paste Extract
Procedure:
3. Allow the paste to stand for 1 hour, and then re-check the criteria
for saturation by adding more DI water or soil, as needed.
4. Leave the paste for 6 to 16 hours and allow equilibrium. Then
re-check the criteria for saturation by adding more DI water or
soil, as needed.

5. Then filter with a vacuum

filtration system using a
Buchner funnel fitted with
Whatman No. 42 filter
paper.
Determination of salinity (soluble salt) in Saturated Paste Extract
Procedure:

6. Transfer the extract that passed though

filter paper into a 50mL beak.

7. Calibrate the conductivity meter using

the standard KCl solution following
manufacturer’s instructions. Be sure
to rinse the probe thoroughly before
and after calibration using Demonized
water or Distilled water
Determination of salinity (soluble salt) in Saturated Paste Extract

Procedure:

8. Immerse the conductivity probe in the solution, and take the

reading. Make sure that the level of solution must be higher than
the hole on the PVC sleeve. Tap the probe repeatedly on the
bottom of the beaker and stir it to ensure that no air bubbles are
trapped inside the sleeve
 Interpretation

Table2. Electrical conductivity measurement and salinity classes of saturation paste

extract. (Dahnke and Whitney, 1988).

Electrical
Conductivity Salinity class Crop response
(mmhos cm-1) at 25 C)
0.0 - 2.0 Non saline Almost negligible effects
Yields of very sensitive crops
2.1 - 4.0 Very slightly saline
restricted
4.1 - 8.0 Slightly saline Yields of most crops restricted
Only tolerant crops yield can
8.1 - 16.0 Moderately saline
survive
Only very tolerant crops yield
> 16.1 Strongly saline
survive
The End