U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 close



Research
                Research Home
                            National Programs
                            Research Projects
                            Scientific Manuscripts
                            International Engagement
                            Scientific Software/Models
                            Databases and Datasets
                            Office of Scientific Quality Review
            Media
                News & Features
                            Multimedia
                            Briefing Room
                            Down on the Farm
                            Press Room
                            Science in Your Shopping Cart
                            Scientific Discoveries
                            Tellus
                            Under the Microscope
            About ARS
                About ARS Home
                            Staff Directory
                            Labs and Research Centers (Map)
                            Headquarter Offices
                            Organizational Chart
                            Employee Services (REE Employees Only)
                            Office of Outreach, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity
            Work With Us
                Work With Us Home
                            ARS Vacancies at USAJOBS
                            Careers at ARS Information
                            Scientific Collaborations
                            Extramural Agreements
                            1890 Faculty Research Sabbatical ProgramSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            Reeves  Iii, Jamesitem
                                            McCarty, Gregoryitem
                                            MIMMO, TANJA - UNIVERSITY OF BOLOGNA, IT
  Submitted to: Environmental Pollution
                                    Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 9/3/2001
                                    Publication  Date: 2/5/2002
                                    Citation: N/AInterpretive Summary: Spectroscopy uses the interaction of light with materials to determine composition.  Near- and mid-infrared radiation are two forms of spectroscopy which use light beyond the range of human sight.  Investigations have shown that near- and mid-infrared reflectance spectroscopy can accurately determine organic carbon  (biological in source) in soil.  Efforts have also demonstrated that both can differentiate between organic- and inorganic-carbon in soils, but that the mid-infrared produces more accurate calibrations.  These efforts demonstrate that these methods hold great promise for laboratory soil analysis.  However, the greatest benefit would come with in situ (in place) determinations where factors such as particle size, sample heterogeneity and moisture could be important factors.   While  increasing particle size in samples can adversely effect on calibration accuracy, efforts have demonstrated that the scanning of larger samples can overcome this problem, but the effects of moisture have not been fully explored.  While under in situ conditions carbon distribution and sample heterogeneity are a problem for any analytical method, the rapid analysis possible with spectroscopic techniques will allow many more samples to be analyzed, thus reducing the errors these factors induced.  In conclusion, near- and mid-infrared spectroscopy have great potential for providing the carbon values needed for carbon sequestration studies.
                                Technical Abstract: Investigations have shown that near- and mid-infrared reflectance spectroscopy can accurately determine organic-C in soil.  Efforts have also demonstrated that both can differentiate between organic- and inorganic-C in soils, but that the mid-infrared produces more accurate calibrations.  These efforts demonstrate  that these methods hold great promise for laboratory soil analysis.  However, the greatest benefit would come with in situ determinations where factors such as particle size, sample heterogeneity and moisture could be important factors.   While increasing particle size in samples can adversely effect on calibration accuracy, efforts have demonstrated that the scanning of larger samples can overcome this problem, but the effects of moisture have not been fully explored.  While under in situ  conditions C distribution and sample heterogeneity are a problem for any analytical method, the rapid analysis possible with spectroscopic techniques will allow many more samples to be analyzed, thus reducing the errors these factors induced.  In conclusion, near- and mid-infrared spectroscopy have great potential for providing the C values needed for C sequestration studies.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov