SKN College of Agriculture, University of Udaipur, Jobner-Campus, Rajasthan
Variation of thermal characteristics and bulk density, porosity and moisture content of the two texturally different soils (a sandy and a silty clay loam soils) were studied. Thermal conductivity (λ) was measured using a cylindrical probe and volumetric heat capacity (C) by capsule method. Thermal diffusivity (a) was then calculated using the relation, a = λ/C. Thermal conductivity increased rapidly up to 10% moisture content. Then it increased slowly and finally became constant. Diffusivity, on the other hand shows a peak value near this moisture content, while volumetric heat capacity increased linearly throughout. Compaction of both the soils to higher bulk density increased the value of all these three characteristics, irrespective of the texture.
Thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, volumetric heat capacity, cylindrical probe
