Pedosphere (4): 904--917, 2026
ISSN 1002-0160/CN 32-1315/P
©2026 Soil Science Society of China
Published by Elsevier B.V. and Science Press
| Magnetism of some Egyptian soils affects their responses to magnetized water |
Alshymaa M. GUDA1, Rama T. RASHAD2 |
1 Earth's Geomagnetism Lab, National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG), Helwan 11421 (Egypt);
2 Soils, Water and Environment Research Institute (SWERI)-Agricultural Research Center (ARC), Giza 12112 (Egypt) |
| ABSTRACT |
| Information relating to agricultural soil magnetism is not enough for efficient utilization of magnetic technology to retain sustainable agriculture under climate change. Soil response to magnetized water (MW) is greatly dependent on soil properties. To define how soil magnetism affects soil response to MW, a laboratory experiment was conducted to test soil magnetic parameters and selected chemical and physical properties before and after exposure to MW. Five representative agricultural soils were collected from different cultivated regions in Egypt. The mineralogical composition and magnetic properties, including mass-specific magnetic susceptibility (χ), frequency-dependent susceptibility (χfd), and normal remanent magnetization (NRM), were estimated for the bulk samples. The calcareous and saline soil samples were selected to contact with MW and then tested for their magnetic properties and aggregate size distribution. The variations in magnetic parameters were greatly dependent on soil mineral composition. The saline soil 1 had the least NRM (0.94×10-7 A m2 kg-1), because it consisted mainly of gypsum salt, calcite, and quartz. The saline soil 2 showed the highest χ and NRM, because it was rich in phyllosilicate minerals. The MW decreased the low-frequency susceptibility (χlf) by 3.48%, 2.7%, and 10.16% for the calcareous soil and saline soils 1 and 2, respectively. Oppositely, the MW increased the χlf of the aggregate-size fraction < 90 μm by 9.92% for the calcareous soil, but decreased the χlf by 1.11% and 2.46% for the saline soils 1 and 2, respectively. The MW decreased the zeta potential (ζ) of the calcareous soil by 1.9%, but increased the ζ of the saline soils 1 and 2 by 4.2% and 0.53%, respectively. The results showed that MW affected soil chemical, physical, electrical, and magnetic properties. Many studies are needed to understand the magnetic behavior of soil under the effect of MW more clearly. The overall effect of MW on soil cannot be predicted, and each soil type may be a special case of study due to the highly complex interactive factors in different soil conditions and water sources used. |
| Key Words: aggregate-size fraction,calcareous soil,magnetic susceptibility,normal remanent magnetization,saline soil,sandy soil,zeta potential |
| Citation: Guda A M, Rashad R T. 2026. Magnetism of some Egyptian soils affects their responses to magnetized water. Pedosphere. 36(4): 904-917. |
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