Predicting Soil Electrical Conductivity of Saturated Paste Extract Using Pedotransfer Functions in Northeastern Tunisia

Oumayma Hmidi, Feyda Srarfi, Nadhem Brahim, Paola Bambina and Giuseppe Lo Papa ()
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Oumayma Hmidi: Geodynamics, Geonumerics and Geomaterials Laboratory (LR18ES37), Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis El Manar 2, Tunis 2092, Tunisia
Feyda Srarfi: Geodynamics, Geonumerics and Geomaterials Laboratory (LR18ES37), Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis El Manar 2, Tunis 2092, Tunisia
Nadhem Brahim: Plants, Soils and Environnement Laboratory (LR21ES01), Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis El Manar 2, Tunis 2092, Tunisia
Paola Bambina: Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences (SAAF), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Giuseppe Lo Papa: Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences (SAAF), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 20, 1-18

Abstract: Soil electrical conductivity is a key indicator of soil salinity and sustainability, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. Accurate estimation of EC is essential for managing soil salinity and ensuring crop productivity. Five pedotransfer functions (PTFs) were developed and evaluated for predicting electrical conductivity in a saturated paste extract using soil parameters, such as particle size analysis, pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen, cation exchange capacity, and electrical conductivity in a 1:5 soil-to-water extract, in agricultural soils of northern Tunisia. The accuracy of each PTF was systematically evaluated. PTF1 represented an R 2 value of 0.85, PTF2 showed an R 2 of 0.71 for the stepwise regression model, PTF3 achieved an R 2 of 0.84, PTF4, based on Lasso/Ridge regression, reached an R 2 of 0.89, and PTF5 reached an R 2 of 0.83. Our findings revealed regional variations in soil salinity, with certain areas showing elevated salinity levels that could affect agricultural sustainability. This research emphasizes the importance of developing ad hoc PTFs as a reliable tool for predicting soil salinity and, consequently, assuring sustainable soil management in northeastern Tunisia.

Keywords: soil salinity; electrical conductivity; pedotransfer functions; sustainable soil management; Tunisia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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