The prediction of soil carbon fractions using mid-infrared-partial least square analysis
L. J. Janik A , J. O. Skjemstad A , K. D. Shepherd B and L. R. Spouncer AA CSIRO, Land and Water, and CRC for Greenhouse Accounting, PMB No. 2, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia.
B World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), PO Box 30677 – 00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
C Corresponding author. Email: jan.skjemstad@csiro.au
Australian Journal of Soil Research 45(2) 73-81 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR06083
Submitted: 6 July 2006 Accepted: 19 December 2006 Published: 28 March 2007
Abstract
This paper describes the application of mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy and partial least-squares (PLS) analysis to predict the concentration of organic carbon fractions present in soil. The PLS calibrations were derived from a standard set of soils that had been analysed for total organic carbon (TOC), particulate organic carbon (POC), and charcoal carbon (char-C) using physical and chemical means. PLS calibration models from this standard set of soils allowed the prediction of TOC, POC, and char-C fractions with a coefficient of determination (R2) of measured v. predicted data ranging between 0.97 and 0.73. For the POC fraction, the coefficient of determination could be improved (R2 = 0.94) through the use of local calibration sets. The capacity to estimate soil fractions such as char-C rapidly and inexpensively makes this approach highly attractive for studies where large numbers of analyses are required. Inclusion of a set of soils from Kenya demonstrated the robustness of the method for total organic carbon and charcoal carbon prediction.
Additional keywords: mid infrared, MIR, PLS, organic carbon, TOC, carbon fractions, charcoal.
Cambardella CA, Elliot ET
(1992) Particulate soil organic matter changes across a grassland cultivation sequence. Soil Science Society of America Journal 56, 777–783.
Haaland DM, Thomas VT
(1988) Partial least-squares methods for spectral analyses. 1. Relation to other quantitative calibration methods and the extraction of qualitative information. Analytical Chemistry 60, 1193–1202.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hazel G,
Bucholtz F,
Aggarwal GN, Ewing KJ
(1997) Multivariate analysis of mid-IR spectra of hydrocarbon-contaminated wet soils. Applied Spectroscopy 51, 984–989.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Heanes DL
(1984) Determination of total organic-C in soils by an improved chromic acid digestion and spectrophotometric procedure. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 15, 1191–1213.
Holmgen A, Nordén B
(1988) Characterization of peat samples by diffuse reflectance FT-IR spectroscopy. Applied Spectroscopy 42, 225–262.
Janik LJ,
Merry RH, Skjemstad JO
(1998) Can mid-infrared diffuse reflectance analysis replace soil extractions? Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 38, 681–696.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Janik LJ, Skjemstad JO
(1995) Characterization and analysis of soils using mid-infrared partial least squares. II. Correlations with some laboratory data. Australian Journal of Soil Research 33, 637–650.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jenkinson DS, Coleman K
(1994) Calculating the annual input of organic matter to soil from measurements of total organic matter and radiocarbon. European Journal of Soil Science 45, 167–174.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Merry RH, Spouncer LR
(1988) The measurement of carbon in soils using a microprocessor-controlled resistance furnace. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 19, 707–720.
Parton WJ,
Schimel DS,
Cole CV, Ojima DS
(1987) Analysis of factors controlling soil organic matter levels in Great Plains grasslands. Soil Science Society of America Journal 51, 1173–1179.
Schmidt MWI, Noack AG
(2000) Black carbon in soils and sediments: Analysis, distribution, implications, and current challenges. Global Biogeochemistry Cycles 14, 777–793.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Skjemstad JO,
Clarke P,
Taylor JA,
Oades JM, McClure SG
(1996) The chemistry and nature of protected carbon in soil. Australian Journal of Soil Research 34, 251–271.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Skjemstad JO, Dalal RC
(1987) Spectroscopic and chemical differences in organic matter of two Vertisols subjected to long periods of cultivation. Australian Journal of Soil Research 25, 323–335.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Skjemstad JO,
Janik LJ, Taylor JA
(1998) Non-living organic matter: what do we know about it? Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 38, 667–680.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Skjemstad JO,
Spouncer LR,
Cowie B, Swift RS
(2004) Calibration of the Rothamsted organic carbon turnover model (RothC ver. 26.3), using measurable soil organic carbon pools. Australian Journal of Soil Research 42, 79–88.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Skjemstad JO, Taylor JA
(1999) Does the Walkley-Black method determine soil charcoal? Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 30, 2299–2310.
Skjemstad JO,
Taylor JA, Smirnik RJ
(1999) Estimation of charcoal (char) in soils. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 30, 2283–2298.
Smernik RJ, Oades JM
(2000) The use of spin counting for determining quantitation in solid state 13C NMR spectra of natural organic matter 2. HF-treated soil fractions. Geoderma 96, 159–171.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Smernik RJ,
Skjemstad JO, Oades JM
(2000) Virtual fractionation of charcoal from soil organic matter using solid state 13C NMR spectral editing. Australian Journal of Soil Research 38, 665–683.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Smith DM,
Griffin JJ, Goldberg ED
(1975) Spectroscopic method for the quantitative determination of elemental carbon. Analytical Chemistry 47, 233–238.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Theng BKG, Tate KR
(1989) Interactions of clays with soil organic constituents. Clay Research 8, 1–10.
Theng BKG,
Tate KR, Becker-Heidmann P
(1992) Towards establishing the age, location, and identity of the inert soil organic matter of a spodosol. Zeitschrift fur Pflanzenernahrung und Bodenkunde 155, 181–184.
| Crossref |
van Veen JA,
Ladd JN, Frissel MJ
(1984) Modelling C and N turnover through the microbial biomass of soil. Plant and Soil 76, 257–274.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Walkley A, Black LA
(1934) An examination of the Dgtjareff method for determining soil organic matter, and a proposed modification of the chromic acid titration method. Soil Science 37, 29–38.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wander MM, Traina SJ
(1996) Organic matter fractions from organically and conventionally managed soils: II. Characterization of composition. Soil Science Society of America Journal 60, 1087–1094.
