An Investigation of the Relationship between the Electrical Conductivity of the Soil Saturated Paste Extract ECe with the Respective Values of the Mass Soil/Water Ratios 1:1 and 1:5 (EC1:1 and EC1:5)

Abstract

The standard methodology for the soil salinity assessment is provided through the determination of the electrical conductivity (EC) of the soil saturated paste extract, ECe. This approach is cumbersome and tedious. Instead of this, it appears easier to measure the EC of various soil over water mass ratios, (soil:water), such as 1:1, 1:5. In the present study an attempt is made to compare the ECe methodology with the methods providing the EC1:1 and EC1:5. ECe, and EC1:1 or EC1:5 values were obtained from 198 soil samples from 5 different locations in Greece. It was shown that the methods providing EC1:1 and EC1:5 values are linearly correlated to the ECe methodology with a high correlation coefficient (R2 > 0.93).