Dielectric Characterization of Sodic Soils in the C-Band: Implications for Moisture Monitoring

Authors

  • Farhat Shaheen Masood Khan Department of Basic and Applied Sciences, MGM University, Aurangabad, India.
  • Gopinath Y. Chavan Department of Basic and Applied Sciences, MGM University, Aurangabad, India
  • Nilkanth N Kapse Department Of Physics, B.Raghunath ACS College, Parbhani - 431 401, (MS) India
  • Vishal A. Pandit Department Of Physics, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Marathwada University, MS, Aurangabad, India
  • Kranti Zakde Department of Basic and Applied Sciences, MGM University, Aurangabad, India.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.63278/1289

Keywords:

Sodic soils, dielectric properties, soil moisture

Abstract

Sodic soils, characterized by high sodium accumulation, exhibit poor structure, low permeability, and reduced fertility, impacting agricultural productivity. This study investigates the dielectric properties of sodic soils within the C-band (4–8 GHz) microwave frequency range to assess their correlation with moisture content, electrical conductivity (EC), and bulk density. Soil samples from Buldhana district, India, were analyzed using a vector network analyzer (VNA) and the coaxial probe technique. The results indicate a strong correlation between dielectric constant (ε') and soil moisture (R² = 0.991) and dielectric loss (ε'') with EC (R² = 0.997). Comparative analysis of Dobson, Hallikainen, and Mironov models revealed that Mironov’s model best predicts sodic soil behaviour. The findings demonstrate the potential of microwave remote sensing (MRS) for soil moisture and salinity assessment, aiding precision agriculture and reclamation strategies. Future research should extend to higher frequency bands and machine learning models for enhanced prediction accuracy.

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How to Cite

Khan, Farhat Shaheen Masood, Gopinath Y. Chavan, Nilkanth N Kapse, Vishal A. Pandit, and Kranti Zakde. 2025. “Dielectric Characterization of Sodic Soils in the C-Band: Implications for Moisture Monitoring”. Metallurgical and Materials Engineering 31 (1):586-95. https://doi.org/10.63278/1289.

Issue

Vol. 31 No. 1 (2025)

Section

Research

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Copyright (c) 2025 Farhat Shaheen Masood Khan, Gopinath Y. Chavan, Nilkanth N Kapse, Vishal A. Pandit, Kranti Zakde

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