Walter Maxwell, W2DU proposed a fast way to determine earth loss at
radio frequencies without digging into the earth.

"Earth Constants", conductivity and permittivity, affect ground wave
propagation and terrestrial reflections.. They may predict or explain
some propagation. They al;so affect operation of nearby antennas.

Earth permittivity is the ratio of a capacitor`s capacitance using an
earth sample as a dielectric, to its capacitance using air as the
dielectric. Under "permittivity" my dictionary says: "-See Dielectric
Constant.".

Earth conductivity is defined as the conductance between opposite faces
of a unit cube (usually 1.0 cubic meter) of a given earth material, e.g.
rock, sand, clay, loam, water, etc. Hoe do you measure this without
changing its value?

Conductivity and permittivity are affected by chemical and physical
composition, moisture, and temperature (especially freezing).

Earth constants are functions of frequency and antenna polarization.
R.F. determination seems best.

Best regards, Richard Harrison, KB5WZI