Proximal Soil Sensing, 2010 Progress in Soil Science Series, Vol. 1

This book reports on developments in Proximal Soil Sensing (PSS) and high resolution digital soil mapping. PSS has become a multidisciplinary area of study that aims to develop field-based techniques for collecting information on the soil from close by, or within, the soil. Amongst others, PSS involves the use of optical, geophysical, electrochemical, mathematical and statistical methods. This volume, suitable for undergraduate course material and postgraduate research, brings together ideas and examples from those developing and using proximal sensors and high resolution digital soil maps for applications such as precision agriculture, soil contamination, archaeology, peri-urban design and high land-value applications, where there is a particular need for high spatial resolution information. The book in particular covers soil sensor sampling, proximal soil sensor development and use, sensor calibrations, prediction methods for large data sets, applications of proximal soil sensing, and high-resolution digital soil mapping.

Key themes: soil sensor sampling ? soil sensor calibrations ? spatial prediction methods ? reflectance spectroscopy ? electromagnetic induction and electrical resistivity ? radar and gamma radiometrics ? multi-sensor platforms ? high resolution digital soil mapping - applications

Raphael A. Viscarra Rossel is a scientist at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) of Australia.

Alex McBratney is Pro-Dean and Professor of Soil Science in the Faculty of Agriculture Food & Natural Resources at the University of Sydney in Australia.

Budiman Minasny is a Senior Research Fellow in the Faculty of Agriculture Food & Natural Resources at the University of Sydney in Australia.

Comprehensive account of data acquisition using proximal soil sensors starting from the development of sampling schemes to the mapping of high resolution sensor data

Describes the state-of-the-art in soil sensing techniques

Features electrochemical, spectroscopic, geophysical and mechanical sensing

Includes sensing methods that have possible future applications

Discusses multisensory platforms