Using electrical profiling to determine soil petrophysical parameters in an agricultural field

The soils of a 10-ha agricultural field in the municipality of Guasave, Sinaloa, were characterized through electrical measurements and determination of petrophysical parameters. An electrical profiling survey for AB/2 = 2 m and 3 m was carried out in the study area. The apparent resistivity, soil moisture, and pore water salinity values were recalculated into petrophysical values using the Petrowin software, resulting in fine (clay+silt) content, and porosity and hydraulic conductivity maps. Using the Bouyoucos method, soil texture was determined for 30 soil samples collected in points matched with EP measurement points. The results of textural analysis indicated that the study area is quite complex, with the presence of eight textures of soil, and soil moisture and groundwater salinity variable in twice and five times, respectively. The fines content values obtained from Petrowin software and the Bouyoucos method were compared showing a high correlation (R = 0.91), giving reliability to fast and inexpensive techniques such as electrical profiling for the determination of the soil petrophysical parameters in extensive agricultural land.