Abstract
Many studies have considered spectroscopy for measurement of soil carbon (SC), and there is potential for spectroscopy to be used as a cost and time effective approach to assess soil quality (SQ). In this research, the relationship between SC and SQ in Irish grassland soils was studied; particularly the efficiency of spectroscopy and chemometric techniques for assessing SC and its contribution to SQ. The study was conducted using 20 sites with 5 replicates per site (n = 100 soil samples). Twenty soil properties were measured using standard methods as soil quality indicators. Management intensity was classified using K-means clustering, and the results reflected a trend in soil properties indicative of poorer SQ under more intensive management. Soil porosity, CN ratio and SC were selected as a minimum data set using principal component analysis and SC was the most discriminating indicator of the impact of management intensity on SQ. Soil visible and near-infrared spectra showed a good efficiency (R2 = 0.91, RMSE = 0.4, RPD = 2.94) for prediction of SC. Spectroscopy and chemometric analysis allowed rapid evaluation of SC, and because of the strong relationship with management intensity, can provide a rapid, low cost, quantitative method for evaluating SQ under grassland management.
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Askari, M.S., Holden, N.M. (2014). Rapid Evaluation of Soil Quality Based on Soil Carbon Reflectance. In: Hartemink, A., McSweeney, K. (eds) Soil Carbon. Progress in Soil Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-04084-4_12
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