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Research Project: INTEGRATED DRAINAGE WATER & AGRONOMIC MGMT STRATEGIES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION & SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION IN THE MIDWEST U.S.

Location: Soil Drainage Research

Title: Geophysical methods

Author
item Allred, Barry
item ADAMCHUK, VIACHESLAV - McGill University - Canada
item VISCARRA ROSSEL, RAPHAEL - Commonwealth Scientific And Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
item DOOLITTLE, JIM - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS, USDA)
item FREELAND, ROBERT - University Of Tennessee
item GROTE, KATHERINE - Missouri University Of Science And Technology
item Corwin, Dennis

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/26/2016
Publication Date: 11/15/2016
Citation: Allred, B.J., Adamchuk, V.I., Viscarra Rossel, R.A., Doolittle, J., Freeland, R.S., Grote, K.R., Corwin, D.L. 2016. Geophysical methods. In: Lal, R. editor. Encylopedia of Soil Science. 3rd edition. New York, New York: CRC Press. Vol II:1004-1011.

Interpretive Summary: Near-surface geophysical methods have become an increasingly important tool for soil investigations in agricultural settings. The methods predominantly employed today are resistivity, electromagnetic induction, and ground-penetrating radar; however, optical reflectance and gamma-ray spectroscopy are beginning to find more widespread utilization. Furthermore, current research indicates that other geophysical methods, such cosmic-ray neutron probes, seismic, self-potential, magnetometry, nuclear magnetic resonance, etc., all exhibit potential for measurement of soil properties or conditions. The application to soil surveys, precision farming, soil water content measurement, and soil salinity monitoring have been described in this chapter, but geophysical methods have also been used for soil investigations in forested areas, confined animal feeding facilities, and golf courses, with new applications continuing to evolve. Development of multi-senor platforms and sensors mounted on unmanned aerial vehicles will dramatically improve geophysical soil investigation capabilities with respect field accessibility and data interpretation. Consequently, the future near-surface geophysics in soil science appears very promising.

Technical Abstract: Near-surface geophysical methods have become have become important tools for agriculture. Geophysics employed for agriculture tends to be heavily focused on a 2 m zone directly beneath the ground surface, which includes the crop root zone and all, or at least most, of the soil profile. Resistivity, electromagnetic induction, and ground-penetrating radar are the three geophysical methods most commonly used for agricultural soil investigations; however, optical reflectance and gamma-ray spectroscopy are increasingly becoming more widely utilized. Geophysical methods have been applied to soil surveys, precision farming, soil water content measurement, and soil salinity monitoring. These methods have also been used for soil investigations in forested areas, confined animal feeding facilities, and golf courses, with new agricultural geophysics applications continuing to evolve. Development of multi-senor platforms and sensors mounted on unmanned aerial vehicles will dramatically improve geophysical soil investigation capabilities with respect field accessibility and data interpretation. Consequently, the future near-surface geophysics in soil science appears very promising.