Mr. Chris Todter Profile

Chris Todter

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Proceedings Article | 23 April 2020 Paper

Soilytics, replacing chemistry with physics: hyperspectral infrared imaging replaces testing by loss on ignition organic matter method

Kim Fleming, Penelope Nagel, Chris Todter

Proceedings Volume 11409, 1140905 (2020) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2561703

KEYWORDS: Agriculture, Soil science, Sensors, Short wave infrared radiation, Chemical analysis, Carbon, Chemistry, Physics, Yield improvement, Data processing

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The relevance of understanding organic matter in agriculture includes its impact on soil texture, soil bulk density, water holding capacity, soil pH, cation exchange, and microbial biomass. . Currently organic matter is analyzed by the “Loss on Ignition” and “Walkley Black” methods. PDMI (Persistence Data Mining Inc.) is introducing the Soilytics^TM solution, our hyperspectral soil nutrient mapping technology. Hyperspectral technology allows for quick and easy soil organic matter testing at a cost-effective rate. This will dramatically improve the efficiency of soil labs, while reducing cost and response times. Not only will this be a huge breakthrough for the soil testing industry, it will serve the precision agricultural market by improving fertilizer application and efficiency. Our technology will help farmers increase crop yields, optimize input costs, and improve environmental protection. Organic matter hyperspectral results are well within the standard margin of error of loss on ignition organic matter analysis between different laboratories and is a cost-effective method to test and make prescriptions for fertilizers application in agriculture fields. Through the use of advanced algorithms Soilytics^TM is able to convert hyperspectral reflectance soil data into usable information to serve the agricultural industry. The Malvern Panalyticals ASD LabSpec is used to collect relevant data. Hyperspectral sensors allow us to visually see outside the range of human vision. Focusing on the SWIR (Short Wave Infrared), and VNIR (Visible-Near IR) spectrum have enabled a new advanced methodology to scan and collect data on nutrients and OM (organic matter) in soil. The data had to be analyzed for factors that could impact results based on texture, water content, and geology. The baselined data could then be processed into accurate information. Correlating these results to current lab methods resulted in the determination that the use of the full spectrum resulted in better results since limiting factors on confidence required additional spectral bands to properly baseline. LOI (Loss on Ignition) is the conventional method for organic matter analysis, cost constraints prevent more granular testing which impacts yields and costs. By remote sensing soil samples, we can take many more samples more quickly and efficiently. The sample data can then be uploaded directly to the laboratories, which eliminates the cost and delays of shipping samples.

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