The Effects of Some Physical and Chemical Factors on Apparent Resistivity of Surface Soil in the University of Mosul, Mosul City, Northern Iraq

Bashar A Al-Juraisy

doi:10.24996/ijs.2021.62.11.18

Abstract

Soil resistivity depends on many overlapping factors, which influence it in various ways. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of some physical and chemical factors on soil apparent resistivity. The results of field, laboratory, and statistical studies revealed a complex relationship between water content, pH, and salinity with soil apparent resistivity. The results showed that water content had a clear effect on apparent resistivity, as it increased significantly when water content value decreased to less than about 5%. The results also showed that increasing the salinity ratio at the expense of water content led to an increase in the apparent resistivity values. The apparent resistivity values also increased significantly when pH values fell below about 7.7. The increase in air temperature caused an increase in water evaporation from the soil, which led to increasing the apparent resistivity. The rise in air temperature also caused an increase in the concentration of salts at the expense of water content; since salts are considered to be insulators, unless they are dissolved in water, they cause an increase in the value of apparent resistivity.

Highlights

Soil characteristics are of a great importance in many applied fields, such as agriculture [1], construction [2], and earthing installation [3]
Water content values were directly related to the temperature values of the soil, which are mainly dependent on the sun's heat, as the high temperatures lead to the drying of the soil and the decrease in water content as a result of evaporation, except for some periods of heavy rain (Figure 5)
Among the many overlapping physical and chemical factors affecting soil apparent resistivity, moisture is the most influential factors that is directly related to air temperature

Summary

Introduction

Soil characteristics are of a great importance in many applied fields, such as agriculture [1], construction [2], and earthing installation [3]. Water content is an important factor in determining the electrical properties of soil, as most soils are composed of non-metallic minerals that are poorly conductive to electrical current. Laboratory studies showed that resistivity increases with decreasing water content of the soil [12]. Most of laboratory studies performed to establish the relationship between salinity and clay soil resistivity revealed that the two have a strong relationship [8, 14]. This relationship came from the fact that the separation and movement of positive and negative ions, while applying an electric potential to the solution, greatly helps in the transfer of electrical charge (current flow).

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion