Characterization of spatial soil variability is key for a better understanding of soils. To arrive at such information geophysical techniques have been used in the last two decades. Due to its easy handling, the geophysical sensor EM38 has widely been used to characterize agricultural areas. The theoretical background and usage of the EM38 is described, and based on multifaceted applications, the interpretation of the results as well as optimized steps for using it are outlined. Common principles and models of the apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) and strengths and limitations of this technique (calibration and temperature effects) are described as well as additional applications, such as the magnetic susceptibility, a comparison of measurements in vertical and horizontal modes, the use of weighted depth information and the influence of measurement conditions are addressed. Further a comparison of EM38 with other proximal soil sensors and fusion with other devices is described. The study reveals that EM38 is useful because the readings can reflect many different soil parameters.
Keywords: conductivity modelling; influence of external and internal factors; measurement modes; soil mapping; spatial prediction.