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Imaging the electrical conductivity of the soil profile and its relationships to soil water patterns and drainage characteristics

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Abstract

Soil water content (θ) measurement is vital for accurate irrigation scheduling. Electromagnetic induction surveys can be used to map spatial variability of θ when other soil properties are uniform. However, depth-specific θ variations, essential for precision irrigation management, have been less investigated using this method. A quasi-2-dimensional inversion model, capable of inverting apparent soil electrical conductivity (ECa) data to calculate estimates of true electrical conductivity (σ) down the entire soil profile, was developed using ECa data collected by a multi-coil Dualem-421S sensor. The optimal relationships between σ and volumetric water content (θv) were established using all coil arrays of the Dualem-421S, a damping factor of 0.04, an initial model of 35 mSm−1, and with ten iterations (R2 = 0.70, bias = 0.00 cm3cm−3, RMSE = 0.04 cm3cm−3). These relationships were then used to derive soil profile images of these properties, and as expected, θv and σ follow similar trends down the soil profile. The derived soil profile images for θv have potential use for irrigation scheduling to two ECa-derived soil management zones under a variable rate irrigation system at this case study site. They reflect the intrinsic soil differences that occur between texture, texture transitions and drainage characteristics. The method can also be used to guide placement of soil moisture sensors for in-season monitoring of spatio-temporal variations of θv. This soil imaging method showed good potential for predicting 2D depth profiles of soil texture, moisture and drainage characteristics, and supporting soil, plant and irrigation management.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully thank the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment ‘Maximising the Value of Irrigation’ Programme and Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research for financial support. We thank John Triantafilis for inspiring the idea for this research, Paul Whitehead, John Dando and Paul Peterson for technical support and F.A. Monteiro Santos for guiding the EM data processing. Pierre Roudier is a member of the Research Consortium GLADSOILMAP, supported by LE STUDIUM Loire Valley Institute for Advanced Studies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. AgResearch Invermay, Private Bag 50034, Mosgiel, New Zealand

    A. G. El-Naggar

  2. Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research, Riddet Road, Massey University Campus, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand

    C. B. Hedley & P. Roudier

  3. Institute of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

    D. Horne

  4. Plant & Food Research, Batchelar Road, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand

    B. E. Clothier

  5. Te Pūnaha Matatini, A New Zealand Centre of Research Excellence, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand

    P. Roudier

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  1. A. G. El-Naggar
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  5. B. E. Clothier
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Correspondence to A. G. El-Naggar.

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El-Naggar, A.G., Hedley, C.B., Roudier, P. et al. Imaging the electrical conductivity of the soil profile and its relationships to soil water patterns and drainage characteristics. Precision Agric 22, 1045–1066 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11119-020-09763-x

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