Investigating The Influence Of Texture And Color On Dielectric Properties Of Soil At Microwave Frequency

Abstract

The present investigation conducted dielectric constant measurements at the X, J, and C bands of the microwave bench. Soil samples were collected from farming land of Buldhana region of Maharashtra state, India and subsequently evaluated for their physical and chemical properties. We have examined the influence of color and texture on the dielectric constant of soil samples. It was observed that soil texture significantly affects dielectric properties, with higher clay and silt content leading to increased dielectric constants due to greater water retention, while sandy soils exhibit lower values. Frequency-dependent behavior was observed, with the highest ε' and ε" values in the C band. The dielectric loss tangent (tan δ) increased with frequency, with red soil displaying a notable spike in loss at the C band, likely due to iron oxide interactions. These findings highlight the critical role of soil composition and color in determining dielectric behavior, providing valuable insights for applications in soil moisture sensing, precision agriculture, and remote sensing. The study underscores the importance of considering both dielectric constant and loss tangent in microwave-based soil analysis.