This section provides an overview for electrical conductivity meters as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 8 electrical conductivity meter manufacturers and their company rankings.
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An electrical conductivity meter is an instrument used in the field of agriculture to determine soil salinity and the amount of fertilizer ions (especially nitrogen content) dissolved in the soil or solution.
The standard EC value before fertilizer application is said to be between 0.20 mS/cm and 0.50 mS/cm, with a slight variation depending on the crop. In the case of purified water and liquid fertilizer, it can be said that the liquid fertilizer contains substances that conduct electricity, such as phosphoric acid and calcium, and thus conducts electricity more easily (higher EC value).
The EC value is expressed in units of S/m (siemens per meter). Soil and culture media contain organic matter, such as plant residues and microorganisms, and inorganic matter, such as minerals and salts. Inorganic materials ionize in solution and separate into cations and anions.
When ions are present in the soil/culture medium, electricity flows to them and can be measured with an electrical conductivity meter. The EC meter uses this principle to measure fertilizer concentration.
Electrical conductivity meters are mainly used for soil diagnosis in fields and for making culture media for hydroponics. If the residual amount of fertilizer is known before applying fertilizer to crops, it is possible to apply the proper amount of fertilizer.
If the residual amount is high, green manures such as sorghum or sunflowers can be used to reduce the fertilizer content of the soil and prevent overfeeding. Conversely, if fertilizer residuals are low, electrical conductivity meter are used for soil diagnostics, as the right amount can be given according to the amount that is missing.
Electrical conductivity meter can be used for soil diagnosis to prevent growth problems and ensure that the right amount of fertilizer is applied at the right time.
In the cultivation of cabbage, broccoli, spinach, and other open-air vegetables, electrical conductivity meter are used for soil diagnosis to determine the amount and timing of fertilizer application.
An electrical conductivity meter is indispensable when growing vegetables hydroponically. We use electrical conductivity meter to measure the concentration of liquid fertilizer, which replaces soil, and the concentration of nutrients in the water that is circulated, and to determine the concentration.
In the case of growing strawberries and other crops in greenhouses (cultivation beds are placed at a height of about 1 meter above the ground and grown on the beds), electrical conductivity meters are used to control the concentration of the culture medium.
Since the management of strawberry culture solution affects the number of fruiting plants, many farmers rely on electrical conductivity meters to manage the solution.
When soil diagnosis is performed at any time, the cultivation method can be changed based on the measured values to improve the efficiency of cultivation, and the cultivation can be made manual (cultivation management can be done without specialized knowledge). It also helps reduce fertilizer wastage as the right amount of fertilizer can be managed.
Costly to purchase electrical conductivity meter, purified water for measurement, and calibration solutions (some are not required). If you are constantly measuring culture medium concentration in greenhouse or hydroponic cultivation, you will need an electrical conductivity meter for each greenhouse or circulation system, which is more expensive.
Different types of electrical conductivity meters are used in different ways. There are two main types: the direct type, which is inserted directly into the soil, and the supernatant type, in which the supernatant of the sample to be measured is extracted and measured.
The direct electrical conductivity meter is inserted directly into the soil, and the measured value is displayed on the top of the meter. It is easy to use and can be used immediately. The meter is more accurate if the soil near the tip is slightly moist when it is inserted.
This is suitable for those who want to take measurements quickly and without much effort.
In the supernatant type, the soil to be measured is placed in a container and water is added to it. Tightly cover the container and shake it for about 1 minute to mix the contents, then let it stand for about 10 minutes. The resulting supernatant is then measured with an electrical conductivity meter. It takes longer than a direct electrical conductivity meter, but it features of accurate readings.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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