Potassium fertilizers are widely used in modern agriculture to enhance crop yield and improve soil fertility. However, excessive application of potash fertilizers may alter the physicochemical characteristics of soil and influence its electrical behavior. Rapid detection of such contamination is therefore important for maintaining soil health and ensuring sustainable agricultural practices. In the present study, the dielectric characteristics of potash-contaminated agricultural soil were investigated in the low-frequency region. Soil samples collected from agricultural areas of North Maharashtra were analyzed using an LCR meter in the frequency range of 100 Hz to 1 MHz. Electrical parameters including dielectric constant, dissipation factor, impedance, and admittance were measured for varying concentrations of potassium chloride (KCl). Statistical techniques such as Pearson correlation analysis, regression modeling, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to evaluate the relationship between fertilizer concentration and dielectric parameters. The results indicate that the dielectric constant and admittance increase with increasing potash concentration due to enhanced ionic polarization, while impedance decreases because of improved electrical conductivity within the soil matrix. Regression analysis further confirms the dependence of dielectric parameters on potassium ion concentration. The results demonstrate that low-frequency dielectric measurements can provide a rapid and non-destructive approach for detecting potash contamination in soil. The proposed method has potential applications in soil monitoring systems and precision agriculture.
Amit Sahebrao Biraris (Thu,) studied this question.