Mapping of soil elements for precision agriculture using neutron-gamma technology

Authors: Torbert Iii, Henry; Prior, Stephen; Kavetskiy, Aleksandr; Yakubova, Galina; DONNER, DANIEL - Non ARS Employee; Runion, George

Submitted to: Advances in Agronomy
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/18/2025
Publication Date: 1/15/2026
Citation: Torbert III, H.A., Prior, S.A., Kavetskiy, A.G., Yakubova, G.N., Donner, D., Runion, G.B. 2026. Mapping of soil elements for precision agriculture using neutron-gamma technology. Advances in Agronomy. 195:1-66. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.agron.2025.09.002.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.agron.2025.09.002

Interpretive Summary: A novel soil elemental measurement device called a mobile inelastic neutron scattering system or MINS (no soil sampling required) was commercially developed to quickly map fields. This method requires no soil sampling or laboratory chemical analysis of soil samples. This system can produce good soil carbon maps of large fields that captures the variability common in large agricultural systems.

Technical Abstract: A persistent challenge in soil science is the disconnect between scale of research and real-world application scales. Traditionally, elemental soil measurements begin with small, controlled plots where precision and repeatability are achievable. Prior to laboratory analysis for assessing soil elements, standard methods rely on soil coring and processing, which is labor intensive and time-consuming. When insights from controlled plots are applied across fields spanning hundreds of acres, inherent spatial variability of soil systems can obscure or even negate original findings. The real paradox is that, while spatial uncertainty expands with scale, advancements in precision agriculture now enable us to manage field scale areas on a square-meter basis. A promising alternative to traditional chemical analysis is the use of neutron-gamma analysis (NGA) to measure soil elements over relatively large soil volumes. This method is based on measuring the gamma ray response that appears by irradiating soil with fast neutrons. This nondestructive in situ method requires no soil coring to simultaneously perform multi-elemental analyses of primary elements in the upper profile of large soil volumes. Importantly, measurements are negligibly affected by local sharp changes in elemental content. The Mobile Inelastic Neutron Scattering (MINS) measurement system is a commercial platform that uses NGA to precisely measure C and other elements at the atomic level across a wide area. MINS uses a pulsed high energy neutron beam to stimulate C atoms in soil to create gamma spectra which are detected and then analyzed to produce digital maps of traversed fields. This chapter will demonstrate how this novel method for scaling high-resolution elemental soil measurements across entire fields can maintain square-meter-level precision while capturing the variability that defines large agricultural systems. Critically, this method is not theoretical, it is currently in commercial use, offering a powerful tool to unite the rigor of soil science with operational needs of modern precision agriculture. MINS quickly and accurately performs true volumetric measurements of large areas, conforms to ISO standards (14064-2 2019 and 14064-3 2019), and is not impacted by changing soil type. This intersection of scientific capability and agricultural technology sets the stage for a transformative approach in precision farming.