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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Soil Dynamics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #405607
Research Project: Sustaining Productivity and Ecosystem Services of Agricultural and Horticultural Systems in the Southeastern United States

Location: Soil Dynamics Research

Title: Mobile inelastic neutron scattering (MINS) system

Author
item Kavetskiy, Aleksandr
item Yakubova, Galina
item Prior, Stephen - Steve
item Torbert, Henry - Allen

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/29/2023
Publication Date: 11/1/2023
Citation: Kavetskiy, A.G., Yakubova, G.N., Prior, S.A., Torbert Iii, H.A. 2023. Mobile inelastic neutron scattering (MINS) system [ABSTRACT]. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting, St. Louis, Missouri, Oct 29 - Nov 1 2023.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The application of the inelastic neutron scattering (INS) method for soil elemental (C, Si, Fe, O, Cl, H) analysis is based on registration and analysis of gamma rays created by neutron interaction with soil elements. Main components of the MINS system are a pulsed neutron generator, NaI(Tl) gamma detectors, electronics capable of separating gamma spectra that appear due to different nuclear interaction processes, software for spectra acquisition and data processing, and a GPS tracker used during agricultural field scanning. This method has several advantages over other methods in that it is a non-destructive in situ method that measures the average elemental content in large soil volumes and can be used in stationary or scanning modes. In stationary mode, the INS method yields elemental content of a site with a footprint of ~2.5-3 m2. In scanning mode, this method measures the average elemental content of traversed areas; such data can be used to create elemental distribution maps of surveyed fields. This poster will present a detailed description of the MINS system and some elemental distribution maps.