February 2011, Volume 2, No.

1
International Journal of Chemical and Environmental Engineering

Designing a Low Cost Super Salinity Measuring

Device for Soil and Water
Irshad Fajar, Saleem Qadir Tunio
Geoscience and Petroleum Engineering Department
Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Malaysia

Abstract
As, salinity is the concentration of dissolved mineral, salts that are present in soil or water creates most severe problem in farming
(agriculture crops) because some of the crops are sensitive to salt also in construction point of view, a land having salinity problem is
not considered to be as good piece of land because the construction won’t be stable due to this salinity problem.
In this research a device named super salinity measuring device is brought up for determining the presence of salt in soil and water
with respect to farming of a land, water treatment and construction. The main problems faced during this research are expensive and
small range of depth salinity measure device. Hence author(s) designed this device with low cost with greater depth range and yet very
accurate and precise.
The concept behind the salinity acquisition process is conducted with penetrating the device to the desired depth of measurement in
the medium (water or soil) then the device will record and measure electrical conductivity values which will be converted into salinity
values with using electric circuit attached in the device. The retrieved salinity and electrical conductivity values helps in conducting
further actions required by the management with referring to provide salinity tolerance standard table for agriculture and water
treatment. For the civil engineering usage, roughly estimation upon the salinity level against the metal are considered to be enough and
applicable for field use.

1. Introduction because they have their own salinity tolerance level.

The properties of soil keeps on changing with respect
to time and change in the environment but in this research
the effect of salt (salinity) in soil is discussed.
Geophysical methods have been applied to soil sciences
for some period. Among such methods, those based on
the electric properties are focused because soil materials
and properties are strongly correlated and can be
quantified through the geo-electrical properties [8].
So, it is better to check the soil before proceeding for
farming or building any structure on it and for this, soil
testing equipment is needed. As everybody always looks
for the biggest profit and the possible lowest capital they
spent in their businesses. Unfortunately, sometimes nature
can be very challenging to their businesses, such as:
agricultural, construction, water treatment management,
etc. Most of the research found that one of the great
challenges is salinity.
Salinity is the saltiness or total salt content in the
water. Salinity can be very problematic to some of the
aspects in our life. The high or low salinity in the ground
water, farming soil or construction soil can be a clue to
decide which actions or decisions that needed to be taken
by the management or people. Here are some of the fields
that are affected by the salinity level:
1.1 Agriculture
In farming field, the degree of salinity is important to
be determined before planting the plants and crops
Wrong placement of the plants in salinity range would
result in low production plants or crops. Besides that, it is
important to know the salinity because sometimes the
excessive salinity level in the farming soil can be
disturbance to all plants growth and productions. The
excessive salinity level in the soil is mainly because of
following several causes:
 High Rainfall with poor internal drainage system.
 High salt content in the soil with low rainfall (low
leaching).
 Dry season with internal poor drainage system.
1.2 Water treatment
In water treatment system, the measurement of
salinity is essential. This is because of different salinity
level has different impact on the actual application.
Hence, precise and accurate salinity measurement will
lead to good decision and action with the water treatment
as well as the quality of water.
1.3 Civil engineering
In construction yard, after civil engineer bore or dig
the land for setting the foundation or the underground
pipes, sometimes there is underground water especially in
the coastal area where it is essential to know the salinity
level of that respective underground water. This
measurement is to ensure that salinity level is under
 controlled or not. The effect on the high salinity level to
the metal is corrosion which can damage the foundation
and the pipe. This measurement is aimed to know which
protections or actions need to be taken to tackle the
salinity problems, e.g. the cathodic protection chosen to
solve the salinity problem by civil engineer while
knowing the underground salinity level.
Unfortunately, the price of the salinity measurement
device in the market is relatively high ($ 60 - $200).
Moreover, the depth range is insufficient (20-60 cm) for
certain application (constructional structure).
In the present study a cheaper and deeper penetration
depth range of measurement device was designed that
accurately and precisely measures the salinity value of
soil and water (solid and liquid).
2. Material and Method
2.1 Concept behind the salinity acquisition in super
salinity measure device
Obtaining the salinity from the medium requires some
processes. Firstly, the device is equipped with two probes
that are qualified as good conductor (aluminum) with
distance (L) and surface area (A). Then, the probes are
connected to AC (Alternating Current) power supply to
generate current and the electric circuit. After switched
on, the electric circuit will measure the electrical
conductivity (EC) of the medium between two probes and
converted directly into salinity. The formulas used in this
process are (1), (2) and (3) as follow [1, 2, and 8]:
Where,
R = Resistant (Ω)
V = Voltage (v)
I = Current (A)
EC = Electrical conductivity (Ω-1 cm-1 or S/cm or dS/m)
L = distance between two probes (cm)
A= surface area of probe (cm2)
S = Salinity (mg/L or ppm)
2.2 Super Salinity Measure Device Design
In the attached appendix, Super Salinity Measure
Device technical drawing design, there are four views
which are top, side, front and bottom view. At top view
and side view, part A1 is isolator (wood) connector
2.6 Range salinity value
between two aluminum probes or part C1, the part A1 is
shaped tubular with d=2cm to minimize the restriction
which are comprised of: salinity tolerance for plants and
force between device and the soil while penetrating the
crops [3], salinity tolerance for quality water treatment [4]
soil formation. In the middle of both part A1, part B (2
and rough estimation of metal tolerance upon salinity
part B) are perpendicularly connected to part A1, part B is
level.
57
aimed to provide height, provide the cables path to
electricity circuit and measurement bar. From both edge
of part A1 are attached cables with pinned to screw nails
and nuts to provide the path for current from AC power
supply and electric circuit. Part C1 (2 probes) are
connected with 2 part A1 with the distance l = 7 cm, part
C1 purposely shaped sharply like knife, which functioned
to reduce force by reducing surface area against the soil
formation.
Part C1 (2 probes) main function is electrodes to
detect the difference resistance in each depth that is
penetrated by device (AC) current that is passed through
these part C1. In Front View, part B is seen with frontal
side, which emphasize on the height that is projected until
1 meter, but in the model is just 30 cm. part B as
mentioned before are aimed to provide measurement bar
that is measured per centimeter and another part is for
cables path to the surface. Part C2 is purposely shaped
sharply like knife to reduce force against the soil
formation as mentioned before. In bottom view, part A2
(tubular shape) obviously half shaped sharply to provide
reduction in force to penetrate in the soil formations.
2.3 Electrical circuit
Cables will be attached to one of part B and connected
to several electric circuits which are comprised of:
transformer (24 V, 1 A), power source 240 V, resistors,
PIC (micro chip for programming resistance and salinity
formulas), LCD (for displaying the measured result).
2.4 Development cost
1. Wood sticks RM 1.85
2. Cables RM 0.30
3. Screws and Nails RM 0.75
4. Two aluminum probes RM 1.85
5. Step down transformer(24 V, 1 A) RM 10
6. PIC, LCD Display and circuitry RM 39
TOTAL RM 53.75 or $ 14.73
2.5 Benefits
• Cheaper compared to available tools in the market.
• Suitable for harsh environment.
• Easy to use.
• Portable.
• Accurate & Precise.
• Greater penetration depth (projected up to 1 meter).
• Can be applied in agricultural, construction and any
salinity test.
There are ranges of salinity tolerance in many fields
 Table 2.Salinity level and yield potential of salt tolerance classes for plants
Table 1.Salinity level tolerance of the plants
Herbaceous Expected loss of relative growth or yield (%)
Plants Ornamentals,
Woody fruits Fruits,
Grasses and Relative salt tolerance
Tolerance and trees Vegetables and 0 25 50 100
Groundcovers class
Flowers
American
Apple, Cherry Soil salinity (EC, dS/m)
linden,
& Prunus
Cotoneaster,
Spp., African violet, Sensitive < 1.3 1.4 – 2.7 2.6 – 4.2 > 8.0
Little leaf
Chokecherry, Bean, Carrot,
Sensitive linden, Mock
Currant, Onion, Parsnip
Gooseberry,
orange, Oregon
And Strawberry Moderately sensitive < 3.0 2.7 – 6.3 4.2 – 9.5 >16.0
grape, Redtwig
Pear, Plum
dogwood and
and Raspberry Moderately tolerant < 6.0 6.3 – 10.5 9.5 – 15.0 >16.0
Rose
Aster, Broccoli,
Tolerant < 10.0 10.5 – 15.5 15.0 – 21.0 > 32.0
Cabbage,
Clematis,
Aspen, black Cantaloupe,
Common
Locust, Cauliflower, Table 3.Water quality range
Snowball,
cottonwood, Celery, Corn,
English ivy,
Fir, Grape, Cucumber, Flo EC range
Honeysuckle, Usefulness of water
Green ash, wers (general), (µS/cm)
Moderately Kentucky
Honey locust, Gladiolus, Kale,
sensitive bluegrass, Lilac,
Marples Lettuce, Pea,
Orchardgrass,  Good drinking water for human (if there is no
(most), Poplar, Pepper, Potato,
Privet, Service pollution and not too much suspended materials).
Siberian elm, Pumpkin,
berry,
Spruce And Radish, Spinach,  Generally good for irrigation, if above 300 µS/cm,
Wayfaring tree
Willow Squash, Scallop, 0 – 800 treatment is needed particularly for some salt sensitive
and Yellow sage
Tomato, Turnip plants.
and Watermelon
Blue grama,  Suitable for all livestock.
Buffalo grass,
Caragana,
Autumn olive, Crested
Evergreens wheatgrass, Fine 2.7 Salinity Tolerance in the metals
Beet, Carnation,
Moderately
(general), fesque,
Chrysanthemum,
Basically, the tolerance value is just roughly
Hackberry, Oleander, estimated by the same method with Super Salinity
tolerant Squash and
Juniper, Pine Perennial
and Russian ryegrass,
Zucchini Measure Device, if the value is considered high (> 1000
olive Potentilla, Tall µS/cm) for any metals [9]. So, for safety purpose, civil
fesque and engineer needs to apply any special treatment for
Winged protecting the metals (e.g. foundation of building,
euonymous
underground pipes and any metals that are in contact with
Alkali grass, saline water or salt).
Creeping
Tolerant Tamarix Asparagus
bentgrass and
Iceplant 3 Results and discussion
 The experiment is conducted with following
condition:
In table.1, there are salinity tolerance classes that
plants will grow effectively or well suited in this salinity Input Voltage = 240 V
condition. Plants are categorized into three different Initial Condition (Depth = 0 cm)
types, i.e. woody fruits & trees, ornamentals, grasses & Output Voltage = 24 V
Groundcovers and herbaceous fruits, vegetables &
V = 14.38 V I = 0.002 A R = 719Ω
flowers.
Table.2 shows the observed loss of growth (percent) T (Co) = 25 Co Depth Range = 0 - 10 cm
in relation to electrical conductivity (EC) value of
respective soil area with respective salinity tolerance  Resistance in each depth (parallel system)
classes. This is to ensure, the plant will grow effectively
in the right soil area with right salinity tolerance class.
Where by:
Rt = Total Resistance
Ri = Initial Resistance
Ry = measured Resistance in respective penetrated depth

58
  Defining Constant K for the probes [1]: 3.1 Represented Graphs
With the depth range from 0 to 10 cm, we measure
resistance, electrical conductivity and salinity in each
Where by: penetrated centimeters. There are slightly differences in
the salinity level, EC and R values that is because of
nature of the soil which unpredictably can be measure or
estimated [8]. By the experimental results, the graphs of
several parameters completed. There are four graphs
which are: Depth VS Resistance, Depth VS EC and Depth
VS Salinity.
Table 4.Salinity measurement result
Depth Voltage Current Resistance 3.2 Depth VS Resistance
EC ( )
(cm) (V) (A) (Ω)

0 14.38 0.002 719 0.001321487962

1 14.04 0.019 364.418613 0.00260730328

2 14.02 0.020 354.942958 0.002676908567

3 14.01 0.020 354.814724 0.002676908567

4 14.03 0.020 355.071102 0.002675942479

5 14.00 0.020 354.686399 0.002678844883

6 14.03 0.019 364.290564 0.002608219753

7 14.02 0.020 354.942958 0.002676908567

8 14.04 0.019 364.418613 0.00260730328 Fig.1 Depth penetration relation with resistance
level
9 14.02 0.019 364.162422 0.002609137538 Provided in the x-axis is depth measured (centimeter),
10 14.03 0.019 364.290564 0.002608219753 and y-axis is resistance value, measured (Ω ohm) in
(Fig.1). Shallow penetration begin with 1 cm, the
Average 14.024 0.0195 359.544866 0.00264264612 resistance showed higher value which is 364Ω and when
the device went deeper up to 5 cm, the resistance value
Table .5 Salinity results decreases drastically with slightly changing value around
Water std Salinity
355 Ω. This decrement indicates that the salinity in region
Soil std
Depth (cm) (2-5 cm) is higher than in the surface area.
EC ( ) EC ( ) Then the device went up to 6 cm and drastically the
resistance value is going up again with value around 364
0 1321.487962 1.321487962 792.8927772 Ω. This increment showed to us that the formation at 6th
1 2607.30328 2.60730328 1564.381968 centimeter depth is more saline and the formation salinity
of soil is undeniably unpredictable fluctuated. When the
2 2676.908567 2.676908567 1606.145140 device went deeper up to 7th centimeter depth, the
resistance value decrease up to 355 Ω again, this
3 2676.908567 2.676908567 1606.145140
resistance value indicates that the salinity level in this
4 2675.942479 2.675942479 1605.565487 region is similar with the 2nd – 5th centimeter depth
region. When the device went deeper reached 10th
5 2678.844883 2.678844883 1607.306930
centimeter depth the value is constantly changing with the
6 2608.219753 2.608219753 1564.931852 value around 364 Ω. This indicate that the bottom most of
the soil formation is having higher in resistance compared
7 2676.908567 2.676908567 1606.145140
to the middle depth formation.
8 2607.30328 2.60730328 1564.381968
3.3 Depth VS Electrical Conductivity (EC)
9 2609.137538 2.609137538 1565.482523 With the difference in Resistance value in each
10 2608.219753 2.608219753 1564.931852
penetrated depth, the electrical conductivity is measured
in each respective depth (Fig.2), the value of EC is
Average 2642.64612 2.64264612 1585.587672 influenced by the difference in resistance value, the
constant K of the probes used and the conductivity of the
formation itself. At 1st cm depth, the value is around 2607

59
 µS/cm and the device went deeper reaching 2nd-5th
centimeter depth the EC value increase slightly changing
up to around 2676 µS/cm, this indicates that the
conductivity is greater in the 2nd-5th cm depth rather than
in the surface, this is because the difference in the salinity
of the soil whereby the ease of electric current is
measured based on the respective depth and the nature of
soil itself.
When the device went deeper up to 6th cm depth the
value of EC is decreased until 2607 µS/cm, this indicates
that the nature of the conductivity formation in this region
is similar with 1st cm depth in the upper part. Reaching up
to 7th cm depth the value of EC showed increment up to
2676 µS/cm, having similar conductivity with the 2nd-5th
cm depth formation. Lastly the device reaching up to the
bottom most of the formation up to 10th cm depth with the
values constantly slightly changing values around 2908
µS/cm. Hence, the conductivity of the bottom most is
similar with the upper part which says that the salinity is
about the same values.
Fig.2 Depth penetration relation with electrical
Conductivity Level
3.4 Depth VS Salinity
With salinity measured in mg/L or ppm (parts per
million) in the y-axis (Fig.3) and the depth in the x-axis,
there are similarity in the graph shape with electrical
conductivity graph, it is because the EC and salinity
values are directly proportional. The difference is just the
values of salinity are 0.6*EC with temperature of both
formation and probes are 25 0C. The difference in salinity
values indicates that the formation is heterogenic in
salinity. From the graph, it shows that the upper most and
bottom most of the formation are having lower salinity
than the middle formation.
60
Fig.3 Depth Penetration Relation with Salinity Level
3.5 The application of knowing salinity and ec values
Salinity and EC values are used to decide further
actions to be considered in many fields. In this paper,
there are 3 major fields that are affected by the salinity
level in the medium (water and soil), this salinity are
related to the table of the salinity tolerance or any rough
estimation determination considered by the engineer or
agriculture analyst (depends on the respective field). This
paper comprised of the following fields:
3.6 Agriculture
Determining the average salinity from above
experimental results, the average salinity value is
2.64264612 . Referring to table 2, soil salinity level
and yield potential of salt tolerance classes for plants, the
agriculture analyst knows that this kind of soil can be
disturbance to the growth of sensitive and moderately
sensitive plants because up to 50 % of relative growth
losses is estimated with this salinity level and about 25 %
of growth losses for moderately sensitive plants. With
referring to table 1, Salinity Level Tolerance of the
plants, the type and names of sensitive and moderately
sensitive plants are known to be restricted to be planted in
this kind of soil without special soil treatment.
3.7 Water Quality Treatment
Determining the salinity value for standard water, the
average EC value of standard water is 2642.64612 µS/cm.
With determined EC value for water standard unit
(µS/cm), actions or decision upon the water treatment will
be made by referring to table 3. The EC value from the
experiment is between the ranges of 2500 – 10000 µS/cm,
this indicates that the water content of soil formation is
having several conditions:
 Not recommended for human drinking water.
 Not suitable for irrigation although water up to 6000
µS/cm can be used with special treatment.
 Can be used for drinking water for pigs and poultry
with not more than 6000 µS/cm.
 Water more than 4000 µS/cm can cause shell cracking
in laying hens.
  High magnesium levels can cause stock health
problems in this range. Analysis is recommended.

3.8 Metals protection in civil engineering

By determining the salinity value of soil in the
experiment, we know that average salinity value is
1585.587672 ppm. Quick estimations shows that the
salinity value is relatively high and can be very corrosive
to metals (e.g. foundation structure of building, pipes
without protection, the leg of oil offshore rigs and any
other metal that is in contact with salt or in high salinity
condition environment). Determining the salinity value
before placing or setting the metal into medium helps
civil engineer to decide what kind of protection needed
for the metals to avoid corrosion. In this experiment, the
salinity value is relatively high and the metals that are in
contact suggested to use protection upon it (e.g. cathodic
protection).

3.9 Recommendation on the future design

 To use longer connector for greater depth.
 To change the wood with good insulator material &
easy to clean.
 To use sharp metal probe to efficiently penetrate the
soil & use greater conductivity metal.
 To use AC electricity storage for mobility.
 To use rubber handgrip on the top most connector for
better handling.
 To use temperature & depth sensor on the lower most
device.
4. Conclusions
The problem occurs in the field (Agriculture, Water
treatment and Civil Engineering) is basically related about
the expensive and small range of depth device. Using
Super Salinity Measure Device is not only cheaper but
can be used at greater depth range. The device is
engineered designed with efficient and effective design
which is easy to use and yield the accurate results to
measure salinity and electrical conductivity. The result of
this device has been proved and successfully led to other
decision making which depends on the related field of use
(e.g. agriculture, water treatment and civil engineering).
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Firstly, the author (s) really grateful to Universiti
Teknologi PETRONAS for the support in ensuring this
project successfully made. Second gratitude presented to
our parents who always give us support and love.
REFERENCES
[1] Retrievedfromhttp://hyperphysics.phyastr.gsu.edu/hbase/electric/
resis.html
[2] Victorian Irrigation Research and Advisory Services Committee;
“Quality Aspect of Farm Water Supplies”, 2nd ed. Government
Printers, Melbourne, (1980).
[3] Blaylock, D. Alan; “Soil Salinity, Salt tolerance, and Growth
Potential of horticultural and Landscape Plants”, University of
Wyoming Journal Paper (1994).
[4] Retrieved from Department of Primary Industries, Victoria,
Australia. www.dpi.vic.gov.au
[5] Chaffey, B., ed.; “Principles of Sustainable Agriculture – Dryland
Salinity”, Department of Agriculture, Victoria (1992).
[6] Retrieved from In Wikipedia the free encyclopedia.
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salinity
[7] Sahriye Sonmez, Dursun Buyuktas , Filiz Okturen and Sedat Citak;
“Assessment of different soil to water ratios (1:1, 1:2.5, 1:5) in soil
salinity studies”, Geoderma, Antarctic Soils and Soil Forming
Processes in a Changing Environment, Volume 144, Issues 1-2, 15
march 2008, Pages. 361-369
[8] A. Samouëlian, I. Cousin, A. Tabbagh, A. Bruand and G. Richard;
“Electrical resistivity survey in soil science: A Review”, Soil and
Tillage Research, Volume 83, Issue 2, September 2005, Pages 173-
193.

[9] Chaffey, B., ed., (1992). “Principles of Sustainable Agriculture -

Dryland Salinity”. Department of Agriculture, Victoria.

61