Centro Agrícola (Mar 2015)
VIS/NIR determination of the organic matter content in agricultural Cambisol soils
Abstract
Soil samples were collected and analyzed using the VIS/NIR spectroscopy technique to determine the organic matter content of a Cambisol at the “Alvaro Barba Machado” agricultural experimental station, located on the campus of the University “Marta Abreu” of Las Villas. Traditional chemical analysis methods were applied, and a portable spectrophotometer was used in the visible (379-780 nm) and near infrared (780-1702 nm) ranges. Both datasets obtained were correlated by using multivariate statistical analysis techniques. The chemical analysis results showed there was a low percentage of organic matter content in the sampled soil. Spectral analysis showed a peak in the soil spectra around 1350 - 1430 nm range, due to the presence of water particles and other components. The mathematical model obtained describes the organic matter percentage from the linear combination of the reflectance percentage for each wavelength, where dependence was significant by 88%.