Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Southeast Watershed Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #160260
Title: REMOTE SENSING OF NEAR-SURFACE SOIL PROPERTIES VIA THE AIRBORNE TERRESTRIAL APPLICATIONS SENSOR

Author
item Sullivan, Dana
item SHAW, J. - AUBURN UNIV.
item MASK, P. - AUBURN UNIV.
item RICKMAN, D. - NASA-MSFC
item LUVALL, J. - NASA-MSFC
item WERSINGER, J. - AUBURN UNIV.

Submitted to: Proceedings of SPIE
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/26/2004
Publication Date: 8/2/2004
Citation: Sullivan, D.G., Shaw, J.N., Mask, P.L., Rickman, D., Luvall, J., Wersinger, J.M. 2004. Remote sensing of near-surface soil properties via the airborne terrestrial applications system. Proceedings of SPIE. In Technical Summary Digest, International Symposium on Optical Science and Technology, Denver, CO Aug. 2-6,2004.

Interpretive Summary: Remotely sensed imagery offers an aerial view of near-surface soil features and may be used to streamline farm and watershed scale assessments of soil properties. Soil spectral signatures may be used to delineate management zones for agrochemical applications and soil sampling, as well as guide soil mapping efforts and natural resource inventory. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate an airborne multispectral sensor as a new tool for depicting differences in near-surface soil attributes. Study sites were located in four different physiographic regions with the state of Alabama in an attempt to encompass the inherent variability in soil features. Remotely sensed imagery was acquired in May 2000 via the Airborne Terrestrial Applications Sensor (ATLAS) multispectral scanner, which collects data in 15 bands throughout the visible, near-infrared, and thermal infrared regions of the spectrum. Along with image acquisitions, near-surface soil samples (0-1 cm) from bare fields were collected from 163 sampling points for soil water content, soil organic carbon (SOC), particle size distribution (PSD), and citrate dithionite extractable iron (Fed) content. Results showed ATLAS imagery could be used to differentiate among small changes in Fed, sand, clay and SOC.

Technical Abstract: High spectral and spatial resolution remotely sensed imagery shows promise as a tool to differentiate among small changes in near-surface soil properties. Resolution of near-surface soil properties via image analysis could be used to facilitate soil survey mapping, erosion prediction, fertilization regimes, and allocation of agrochemicals. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between spectral response and near surface soil properties in conventionally managed row crop systems. Study sites were selected to capitalize on the inherent variability among soil properties in four different physiographic regions of Alabama (Coastal Plain, Appalachian Plateau, and Ridge and Valley) with soils ranging from sandy Kandiudults to fine textured Rhodudults. Remotely sensed imagery was acquired in May 2000 via the Airborne Terrestrial Applications Sensor (ATLAS) multispectral scanner, which collects data in 15 bands throughout the visible, near-infrared, and thermal infrared regions of the spectrum. Coincident with remotely sensed data application surface soil samples (0-1 cm) from bare fields were collected from 163 sampling points for soil water content, soil organic carbon (SOC), particle size distribution (PSD), and citrate dithionite extractable iron (Fed) content. Results showed ATLAS imagery could be used to explain 32, 56, 60, and 37 % of the variability in Fed, sand, clay and SOC, respectively. Data from this study suggest that estimates of near-surface soil properties can be made despite differences in physiographic location when sun angle and atmospheric attributes are considered.