ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to determine the relationship between soil electrical conductivity (Soil EC) and plant growth. The research was carried out on a farm located within the Federal College of Education, Osiele, Abeokuta. This study carefully examines how plant growth could be map using soil electrical conductivity. The results of the study can be used to accurately predict plant height on a farm for maximum yield and for proper development of the plants.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background of Study
1.2 Soil Electrical Conductivity (CE)
1.3 Soil
1.4 Statement of the Problem
1.5 Purpose of the Study
1.6 Scope of the Study
1.7 Significance of the Study
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 Literature Review
2.1 Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC)
2.2 Electrical Conductivity and Soil Properties of Field Productivity
2.3 Collecting Soil EC Data
2.4 Misleading Soil Signals
2.5 Soil EC and Crop Yieling
2.6 Soil EC and Precision Agriculture
2.7 Soil Water
2.8 Soil Nutrients
2.9 Testing the Electrical Conductivity of Soils
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 Research Methodology
3.1 Study Area Description
3.2 Collection of Soil Samples
3.3 Collection of Plant Growth Data
3.4 Determination of Soil Electrical Conductivity
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 Results and Discussion
4.1 Distribution of Electrical Conductivity (EC) Across the Field in the
Morning (ECM), Afternoon (ECA) and Evening (ECE)
4.2 Correlation Analysis of EC at Various Times of the Day
4.3 Curve Estimation Analysis of EC at Various Times of the Day
4.4 Multiple Linear Regression Analysis
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation
5.1 Summary
5.2 Conclusion
5.3 Recommendation
Reference
Appendix
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY
Soil formation overlandscape along with management led to soil changes (e.g increased erosion, tillage, topography, lime, fertilization and weathering) result in soil variation within crop fields that affects the productivity of the soil. A soil characteristic often causing variability in crop production and conductivity is soil water storage for plant growth. Soil water storage is factor of determine many measurable properties including water infiltration rate, soil texture, structure, topography, soil resistivity, soil conductivity, soil organic matter and surface residue. Some of these properties physically affect crop root growth..
Nowadays, apparent electrical conductivity of the soil has been identified as an inevitable factor plant growth , which implies it may have a positive effect or negative effect on plant growth as this had been identified and affirmed by Rhoades and George E. Brown, in their journal.
Apparent electrical conductivity EC if the soil can be estimated using two methods, these methods is traditional mention and modern method. The traditional method of analyzing the EC of the soil is through the use or adopting of sampling method, where by soil samples are obtained, air-fired in the laboratory, distilled with distilled water and then test for, using the local meter. But at this twenty-first century, where technology is improving to the apex the spatial measure of profile EC has been adopted. It is carried either by soil mapping or on a regular grid. Surface soil organic matter content determined from spatially referenced sample has sometimes been used to explain variability in crop growth and height (Mallarino et al 1996; Buciene and Svedas, 1997; Mullar and Bhatti 1997). Variation in crop yield has been correlated to surface soil texture(MC Bratney and Pringle 1997).
In expensive and accurate method for measuring within field soil productivity variation would greatly improve site specific crop management. Spatial measurement of profile EC has been reported to have potential for predicting crop production. Variation caused by soil differences (Jaynes et al 1995). Rapid spatial measurement of soil EC has been accomplished using mobile EM induction sensor (MC Neil 1992). Soil EC measurement can be used on some soil as surrogate measure of more costly soil chemical and physical measurement.
The significance of measuring the EC f soil manifested into many aspect. Among this are;
1. To determine the spatial properties of the soil that influence soil productivity
2. To predict the variability in conductivity of soil.
1.2 SOIL ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY (EC)
Soil EC is a measurement that correlates with soil properties that affect crop productivity including soil texture, cation exchange capacity.
The physical properties of soils in order of decreasing importance, are texture, structure, density, porosity, temperature colour, consistency and resistivity.
Soil electrical conductivity (EC) has attracted attention as a mapping tool since it is a quick and economic method of indicating soil productivity (MC Bride et al 1990). In turn, electrical conductivity depends on soil, content, chemical compositions of the soil content chemical compositions of the soil solution and soil exchangeable ions, soil clay content, and exchangeable ions (Nadler and Frenkel 1980).
Soil texture is determined by the relative proportion of thethree kinds of soil particles called soil separates when ion oxides, carbonates, clay, cilica and humus, coat particles and cause them to adhere into larger relatively stable secondary structures.
Soil density, particularly bulk density is a measure of soil compaction. Soil porosity consists of the void part of the soil volume and is occupied by gases of water. Soil consistency is the ability of soil to stick together.
Soil temperature and colour are self-defining Resistivity refers to the resistance to conduction of electric currents and affects the rate of corrosion of metal and concrete structures. These properties may vary through the depth of a soil profile. Most of these properties determine the aeration of the soil and the ability of water to infiltrate and to be held within the soil.
Soil formation, or pathogenesis is the combined effect of physical, chemical, biological and anthropogenic process working on soil parent material. Soil is considered to be the “skin of the earth” with interfaces between the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere.
Soil consists of a solid phase (Minerals and organic matter) as well as a porous phase that holds gases and water.
Soil science has two main branches of study;
Edaphology and Pedology
Pedology is focused on the formation, description (Morphology), and classification of soils in their natural environment.
Edaphology is concerned with the influence of soils on organisms.
Agram of soil can contain billions of organisms, belonging to thousands of species. Soil has a mean prokaryotic density of roughly 1013 organisms per cubic meter, whereas the ocean has a meanprokaryotic density of roughly 108organism per cubic meter. The carbon content stored in solid is eventually returned to the atmosphere through the process of respiration, which is carried out by heterotrophic organisms that feed upon the carbonaceous materials in the soil.
Soil is the most abundant ecosystem on earth, but the vats majority of organisms in soil are microbes, a great many of which have not been descried (CEC), drainage conditions, organic matter level, salinity ad subsoil characteristics.
Soil EC is one of the simplest, least expensive soil measurements available to precision farmers today.
Soil EC measurement can provide more measurements in a shorter amount of time than traditional grid soil sampling.
Electrical conductivity is the measure of total concentration of dissolved salts in water. When salts dissolve in water, they give off electrically charged ion that conducts electricity. The more ions in the water, the greater the electrical conductivity it has. Because there are almost no electrical conductivity. Hard water contains more salts, and therefore more ions, has a high electrical conductivity. Electrical conductivity is denoted by the symbol Ɵ and has SI units of Siemens per meter (S/M).
1.3 SOIL
The history of the study of soil is intimately tied to our urgent need to provide food for ourselves and forage for our animals. Throughout history, civilizations have prospered or declined as a function of the availability and productivity of their soils.
The Greek historian Xenophon (450-355BC) is created with being the first to expound upon the merits of green-manurng crops: “But then whatever weeds are upon the ground, being turned into earth, enrich the soil as much as dung
Scientist who studied the soil in connection with agricultural practices had considered it mainly as a static substrate. However, soil is the result of evolution from more ancient geological materials. After studies of the improvement of the soil commenced. Others began to study soil genesis and as a result also soil types and classification.
Plant roots open channels in soils. Plants with deep taproots can penetrate many metres through the different soil layers to bring up nutrients from deeper in the profile.
Plants with fibrous roots that spread out hear the soil surface have roots that are easily decomposed, adding organic matter.
Soil resources are critical to the environment a well as to food and fibreproduction.
Soil provides minerals and water t plants. Soil absorb rainwater and releases it later, thus preventing floods and drought.
Soil is the habitat for many organism; the major part of known and unknown biodiversity is in the soil, in the form of invertebrates (earthworms, woodlice millipedes, snails, mites, springtails, nematodes), bacteria, archaea, fungi and algaei and most organism living above ground have part of them (plants) or spend part of their lifecycle (insects) below ground. Above-ground and below-ground biodiversities are tightly interconnected, making soil protection of paramount importance for many restoration or conservation plan. There may be a population limit of around one billion cells per gram of soil but estimates of the number of species vary widely. Estimates range from over a million species per gram of spoil to 50,000 per gram of soil. The total number of organism and specie can vary widely according to social type, location, and depth.
Since plant roots need oxygen, ventilation is an important characteristic of soil. This ventilation can be accomplished via networks of soil pores, which also absorb and hold rainwater makingit readily available for plant uptake. Since plants require a nearly continuous supply of water, but most regions receive sporadic rainfall, the water-holding capacity of soils is vital for plant survival.
Soil supply plants with mineral nutrients held in place by the clay and humans content of the soil for optimum plant growth, the generalized content of soil components by volume should be roughly 50% solids (45% mineral and 5% organic matter), and 50% voids of which half is occupied by water and half by gas.
Soil can effectively remove impurities kill disease agents and degrade contaminate. Typically, soils maintain a net absorption of oxygen and methane and undergo a net release of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide. Soils after plants physical support air, water, temperature moderation, nutrients and protection from toxins soils provide readily available nutrients to plants and animals by converting dead organic matter into various nutrient forms.
The organic material of the soil has a powerful effect on its development, fertility and available moisture.
1.4 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Since there are challenges concerning growth of plant due to the fact that within a field soil properties often varies significantly. It is importance for us to known and understand the effect of soil electrical conductivity EC and PH
1.5 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
i. To determine the use of soil EC as to predict plant growth.
ii. To evaluate soil EC as in sandy loamy soil
1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The study was carried out within the farm settlement of federal college of education Osiele, Abeokuta. The soil type used was sandy loamy soil.
1.7 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
It is useful for scientistand farmer to predict may be the land need some fertilizer or not.
There must be a range limit of putting the fertilizer on the farmlands