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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Soil Dynamics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #406209
Research Project: Sustaining Productivity and Ecosystem Services of Agricultural and Horticultural Systems in the Southeastern United States

Location: Soil Dynamics Research

Title: Carbon analysis of large soil samples using the tagged neutron method: Accounting for radiation attenuation

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

Submitted to: Applied Radiation And Isotopes
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/23/2024
Publication Date: 4/25/2024
Citation: Kavetskiy, A.G., Yakubova, G.N., Prior, S.A., Torbert III, H.A. 2024. Carbon analysis of large soil samples using the tagged neutron method: Accounting for radiation attenuation. Applied Radiation And Isotopes. 209:111332. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2024.111332.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2024.111332

Interpretive Summary: Atmospheric carbon uptake in the form of CO2 by plants can help mitigate global change by sequestering soil carbon in soil. Non-destructive methodology for determining carbon content in large soil samples is discussed. This project is based on deconvoluting the sample’s gamma spectra (received by tagged neutron method) on the sample component's spectra by accounting for neutron and gamma radiation attenuations. This method was tested with Monte-Carlo simulations and experimental gamma spectra and good agreement was found between defined and actual sample component content. Application of this method for soil carbon measurements in agricultural fields is discussed.

Technical Abstract: Non-destructive methodology for determining carbon content in large or semi-infinite (soil) samples is discussed. This methodology is based on deconvoluting the sample’s gamma spectra (received by tagged neutron method) on the sample component's spectra by accounting for neutron and gamma radiation attenuations. This algorithm was tested with both Monte-Carlo simulations and experimental gamma spectra. Good agreement was found between defined and actual sample component content. Application of this method for soil carbon determinations in agricultural fields is discussed.