Short communication: Laboratory imaging spectroscopy of soil profiles

Abstract

An imaging spectrometer in a laboratory rack was used to examine soil profiles. Images in the 400–1000 nm range with 4nm spectral resolution and less than 0.1mm spatial resolution of the top 30cm of the soil were acquired. These images can be used to analyse the spatial distribution of chemical and physical soil characteristics and for discrimination and classification of horizons and inclusions. Three-dimensional characterisations of soil properties are possible by recording images of series of parallel slices.