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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbus, Ohio » Soil Drainage Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #216939
Title: GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR GEOPHYSICAL METHODS APPLIED TO AGRICULTURE

Author
item Allred, Barry
item EHSANI, REZA - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
item DANIELS, JEFFREY - THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/1/2008
Publication Date: 6/10/2008
Citation: Allred, B.J., Ehsani, R.M., Daniels, J.J. 2008. General considerations for geophysical methods applied to agriculture. In: Allred, B.J., Daniels, J.J., Ehsani, M.R. Handbook of Agricultural Geophysics. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. p. 3-13.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Geophysics is the application of physical quantity measurement techniques to provide information on conditions or features beneath the earth’s surface. With the exception of borehole geophysical methods and soil probes like a cone penetrometer, these techniques are generally noninvasive with physical quantities determined from measurements made mostly at or near the ground surface. Geophysical methods can provide important information in agricultural settings, and the use of these techniques are becoming more and more widespread. The three geophysical methods predominantly used for agricultural purposes are resistivity, electromagnetic induction, and ground-penetrating radar. Magnetrometry, self-potential, and seismic are three additional geophysical methods, all of which have the potential for substantial future use in agriculture, but at present are being employed sparingly or not at all. This chapter provides a short description of these six geophysical methods, considerations for geophysical data collection in the field, past applications of geophysical methods to agriculture, and future trends in agricultural geophysics.