FUW TRENDS IN SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(A Peer Review Journal)
e–ISSN: 2408–5162; p–ISSN: 2048–5170
keywords: Electrical resistivity tomography, gravimetric analyses, texture, rain-fed agriculture
This study presents the 2-D Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) monitoring of soil moisture distribution on a small maize plot. It was aimed to investigate how soil moisture distribution affects maize plants (Zea Mays) growth and development in rain-fed agriculture. Gravimetric and textural analyses were carried out on the soil samples from the plot. Results of both textural and gravimetric analyses revealed a gradual increase in clay content and soil moisture from east-west across the study area. It was observed that area with low clay content of about 4.8% and moisture content of about 17% has high resistivity value of about 1068 ohms metre (Ωm) where as higher clay content of about 12.7% and moisture content of 20% has low resistivity of about 33 Ωm. High soil resistivity in the eastern part of the field is composed of material texture with less clay content and higher infiltration while low soil resistivity in the western part has material texture with more clay content and lower infiltration. Maize planted on moderate infiltration and low resistivity soil retained moisture with luxuriant growth during shortage of rainfall where as higher infiltration and high resistivity soil was affected by wilting and stunted growth with poor yield.
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