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Title: MID- VERSUS NEAR-INFRARED DIFFUSE REFLECTANCE SPECTROSCOPY FOR THE QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF ORGANIC MATTER IN SOILS AND OTHER BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS

Author
item Reeves Iii, James
item McCarty, Gregory
item REEVES, V - FDA
item FOLLETT, R - SPNRU
item KIMBLE, J - NSSL, NRCS

Submitted to: Proceedings of American Chemical Society National Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/8/2002
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Summary

Technical Abstract: Near-infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy has been used for many years to quantitatively determine the composition of a wide range of biological materials including, more recently, soil organic matter composition. Mid-infrared spectroscopy has, on the other hand, been used primarily for qualitative analysis of such materials unless the samples were diluted with KBr to reduce the high absorbance levels seen. The objective of this work has been to compare the results achievable with mid-infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy to those obtainable using near-infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. Results have demonstrated that accurate mid-infrared calibrations can be developed for a wide variety of analytes (fiber, protein, organic matter, etc.) For dried, ground (20 mesh) samples of soil, and other biological materials (forages, grains, manures and foods). Results with soils have shown that mid-infrared calibrations are generally more accurate and often more robust (Perform better on new samples) than near-infrared calibrations build using the same samples. In conclusion, mid-infrared spectroscopy has a tremendous potential for determining the composition and content of organic matter in soils, composts and similar biological materials.