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Abstract
The Santa Rita Experimental Range (SRER) soils are mostly transported alluvial sediments that occur on the piedmont slope flanking the Santa Rita Mountains in Arizona. The major geomorphic land forms are alluvial fans or fan terraces, but there are also areas of residual soils formed on granite and limestone bedrock, basin floor, stream terraces, and flood plains. The soils range in age from recent depositions to soil material one to two million years of age. We sampled A and B horizons of soil series from different geomorphic surfaces, and measured the dry spectral reflectance (0.4 to 2.5 mm wavelength) on the sieved less than 2-mm-size fraction. Soil color (measured with a Chroma Meter), texture, organic carbon, calcium carbonate content, and effervescence properties were determined and correlated to spectral reflectance in selected wavelengths. The Munsell soil color value component was most positively correlated to reflectance. Soil effervescence and calcium carbonate content, percent sand and clay, and the Munsell soil color hue component and redness rating were also significantly correlated to soil reflectance. Energy reflected from soil surfaces represents the interaction between many soil properties, and soil color is an integrated expression of many soil properties. It is the best soil morphology property to measure to predict the spectral reflectance of soils, particularly in the visible and near infrared parts of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Parent Publication
Citation
Batchily, A. Karim; Post, Donald F.; Bryant, R. B.; Breckenfeld, Donald J. 2003. Spectral reflectance and soil morphology characteristics of Santa Rita Experimental Range soils. In: McClaran, Mitchel P.; Ffolliott, Peter F.; Edminster, Carleton B., tech. coords. Santa Rita Experimental Range: 100 years (1903 to 2003) of accomplishments and contributions; conference proceedings; 2003 October 30-November 1; Tucson, AZ. Proc. RMRS-P-30. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 175-182.
