This study presents a method for calibrating electromagnetic induction instrument readings with saturated paste electrical conductivity (ECe) for field mapping purposes. Each meter reading represents an integration of the apparent soil electrical conductivity (ECa) over the meter’s response depth. To correlate the meter readings with measured ECe within soil depth increments, several pedons representing a range of soil salinity for the survey area were sampled in 30-cm increments to a depth corresponding to the meter response. A weighting procedure based on the meter response-depth function was developed to condense the multiple ECe by depth measurements into a single weighted area specific value. These values were correlated with the apparent soil electric conductivity from the electromagnetic induction instrument by simple linear regression. This technique is designed for soil association of similar parent materials. The resulting regression equation yields a quick reliable equation that avoids complex mathematics and converts the instrument readings into weighted forms of commonly used saturated paste electrical conductivity values. Key words: Soil survey, electrical resistance
Electromagnetic induction prediction of soil salinity and groundwater properties in a Tunisian Saharan oasis
