UAS-based soil carbon mapping using VIS-NIR (480-1000 nm) multi-spectral imaging: potential and limitations

A - Papers appearing in refereed journals

Aldana Jague, E., Heckrath, G., Macdonald, A. J., Van Wesemael, B. and Van Oost, K. 2016. UAS-based soil carbon mapping using VIS-NIR (480-1000 nm) multi-spectral imaging: potential and limitations. Geoderma. 275 (1 August), pp. 55-66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2016.04.012

AuthorsAldana Jague, E., Heckrath, G., Macdonald, A. J., Van Wesemael, B. and Van Oost, K.
Abstract

Traditional methods to assess the soil organic carbon (SOC) content based on soil sampling and analysis are time consuming and expensive, and the results are influenced by the sampling design. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) multi-spectral imagery (480–1000 nm) for estimating the SOC content in bare cultivated soils at a high spatial resolution (12 cm). We performed UAS analysis on the Hoosfield Spring Barley experiment at Rothamsted (UK) where adjacent plots with distinctly different SOC contents, due to different long-term management practices, provide a valuable resource to evaluate this approach. We acquired images (wavelength: 480–550–670–780–880–1000 nm) at an altitude of 120 m over an area of 2 ha using a multi-spectral camera mounted on an UAS. The high-resolution images captured small-scale variations at the soil surface (e.g. shadows, tillage and wheels marks). After a projection in new dimensions by a PCA, we calibrated a support vector machine regression using observations from conventional soil sampling and SOC measurements. The performance of the calibration had a R2 of 0.98 and a RMSE of 0.17%C. A cross-validation showed that the model was robust, with an average R2 of 0.95 and a RMSE of 0.21%. An external validation dataset was used to evaluate the predicted spatial patterns of SOC content and a good fit with an RMSE 0.26%C was obtained. Although this study shows that the methodology has a clear potential for use in precision agriculture or monitoring important soil properties following changes in management, we also identify and discuss its limitations and current shortcomings.

Year of Publication2016
JournalGeoderma
Journal citation275 (1 August), pp. 55-66
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2016.04.012
Open accessPublished as non-open access
FunderBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Funder project or codeDelivering Sustainable Systems (SS) [ISPG]
The Rothamsted Long-Term Experiments including Sample Archive and e-RA database [2012-2017]
Optimisation of nutrients in soil-plant systems: How can we control nitrogen cycling in soil?
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online03 May 2016
Publication process dates
Accepted18 Apr 2016
PublisherElsevier
Elsevier Science Bv
Copyright licenseCC BY
ISSN0016-7061

Permalink - https://repository.rothamsted.ac.uk/item/8v215/uas-based-soil-carbon-mapping-using-vis-nir-480-1000-nm-multi-spectral-imaging-potential-and-limitations

Restricted files

Publisher's version

Under embargo indefinitely

246 total views
2 total downloads
2 views this month
0 downloads this month