SOIL ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY - Back Paddock

soil ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY (EC) is an indirect measure of the total salt concentration of a soil , or salinity. It is measured as the ELECTRICAL conductance of a soil solution or slurry containing soluble salts. The soluble salts contain both cations and anions. Any single or combination of cations and anions, if in high concentration, can cause a high soil EC. High soil EC can restrict water uptake by plant roots, inducing a drought like effect, even if the soil has high water content. Plant cells are surrounded by semi-permeable membranes and are subject to osmotic flows of water. By osmosis, water moves from areas of low salt concentration to areas of higher salt concentration until equilibrium is reached. As a result of an elevated osmotic pressure of the soil solution, plants are required to expend larger amounts of energy to extract water from the soil solution, thereby limiting growth potential .

potential. In more extreme cases, as the soil dries, the soil solution concentrates and water may be pulled out of plant tissue. High EC is most commonly associated with; poor drainage and/or a rising water-table, poor quality irrigation water, seawater and microenvironments in the soil influenced by fertilizer bands. Measurement

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  Electrical, Soil, Potential, Conductivity, Soil electrical conductivity

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