Diagnosing Health of Agricultural Soil Treated with Urea Fertilizer: A Low Frequency Dielectric Analysis

Abstract

In agricultural soils, understanding how urea contamination influences electrical properties is crucial. This study explores the influence of urea contamination on the low-frequency (100 Hz - 1 MHz) dielectric properties of agricultural soil originating from Kasare Village in the western Dhule district, India. Soil samples were treated with varying urea concentrations (0 mg, 50 mg, and 150 mg) and subjected to analysis using an LCR meter. The dielectric constant, impedance, dielectric loss, and admittance of the soil were measured. We observed an increase in the dielectric constant with rising urea content, suggesting an intensification of polarization within the soil matrix. Conversely, impedance and admittance are found to exhibit opposing trends, with impedance decreasing and admittance increasing as urea concentration elevates. Dielectric loss also demonstrate a positive correlation with the amount of urea present. This investigation aims to elucidate the interplay between soil composition and dielectric properties under varying urea concentrations, providing valuable knowledge applicable to agricultural and environmental disciplines.