Real-time Soil Sensing with NIR Spectroscopy
The grey-brown alluvial soil is a typical soil in the Northern China. It was selected as research object to reveal feasibility and possibility of real-time analyzing soil parameter with NIR spectroscopic techniques. 150 samples were collected from a winter wheat farm. And then the NIR absorbance spectra were rapidly measured under the original conditions by a Nicolet Antaris FT-NIR analyzer. Three soil parameters, soil moisture, SOM, TN content, were analyzed. For soil moisture content, a linear regression model was available, using 1920 nm of wavelength with correlation coefficient of 0.937, So that the results obtained could be directly used to real time evaluate soil moisture. SOM content and TN content were estimated with a multiple linear regression model, 1870nm and 1378nm wavelengths were selected in the SOM estimated model, while 2262nm and 1888nm wavelengths were selected in the TN estimated model. The results showed that soil SOM and TN content could be evaluated by using NIR absorbance spectra of soil samples.
[Nondestructive analysis of protein and fat in whole-kernel soybean by NIR].
Near-infrared diffusion reflectance spectroscopy is a fast technique that can provide component information about intact soybean samples. We have combined this technique with partial least-squares (PLS) regression to perform a quantitative determination of protein and fat contents in soybean samples. In calibration set, the NIR model determination coefficient R2 of protein and fat is 0.9930 and 0.9752 respectively, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) is 0.76% and 1.3% respectively. The correlation coefficient r of validation set is 0.9473 and 0.8695 respectively. This NIR model is used to predict the contents of protein and fat in 264 soybean samples, using R-error to assess the deviation of analysis results. The minimum RSD of prediction of protein and fat is 0.04% and 2.46% respectively, and the maximum RSD of prediction of protein and fat is 2.45% and 4.25% respectively. These results are of great importance in early screening of crop breeding.
AN INTRODUCTION T O THE SOILS OF THE SOUTH-EASTERN PORTION OF THE AUSTRALIAN ARID ZONE
Summary 
 
Seven soil regions, each of which is dominated by soils belonging to one or two great soil groups, are defined and mapped. The outstanding feature is the presence of a variety of soils with widely differing characteristics. The soils are deeper, have more profile differentiation and are finer-extured than those in most-arid regions and are frequently overlain by currently-forming deposits of wind-transported materials. Because the vegetative cover is better developed and there are only small areas of rocky hills and bare rock pediments, water erosion and deposition are not as prominent as in other arid areas.