TERN Surveillance monitoring program: Soil vis-NIR spectral library with accompanying soil measurement data for 367 specimens

Brief description

AusPlots is the core program delivered by TERN Surveillance. AusPlots is a plot-based surveillance monitoring program, undertaking baseline assessments of ecosystems across the country. The aim of AusPlots is to establish and maintain a national network of plots that enables consistent ecological assessment and ongoing monitoring. The AusPlots network collects a range of field data for integration with other existing data sources and current knowledge. More information about TERN Surveillance can be found at their website - https://www.tern.org.au/tern-observatory/tern-ecosystem-surveillance/\n\nAs of 2020 there are about 690 active AusPlot sites distributed across Australia.\n\nDuring 2018 to 2019, most of the soil specimens collected at the AusPlots sites were scanned with an ASD portable vis-NIR spectrometer (PANalytical Inc., Boulder, CO, USA). As there is a specific field data collection protocol carried out at each site i.e., numerous spatial distributed samples collected in a grid-design of specified dimensions, this meant a substantial number of specimens to scan. In total there were 19,380 vis-nir spectra collected. The scanning was done at CSIRO Waite Campus with a CSIRO owned vis-NIR spectrometer.\n\nAccompanying the soil vis-NIR library is a dataset of analytical soil measurements for 367 soil specimens selected the Ausplots soil specimen archive. \n\n\n\n\nLineage: The condition of the soil for vis-NIR data collection was: Air-dried and ground to <2mm\n\nSoil vis-NIR spectra were collected using a Labspec ASD portable vis-NIR spectrometer (PANalytical Inc., Boulder, CO, USA) Serial # 4103. \n\nMeasurement units of the soil vis-NIR spectra is reflectance and is output to 1nm spectral resolution. The data ranges from 350-2500nm. \n\nIn total 367 specimens were selected and characterized in the laboratory. 21 of these were randomly selected and analysed as blind duplicates. The soil variables included:\n•\tElectrical conductivity (3A1; dS/m)\n•\tpH (4A1; 1:5 soil:water)\n•\tpH (4B4; 0.01M CaCl2)\n•\tTotal soil carbon (6H5; %)\n•\tSoil organic carbon (6A1_UC; %)\n•\tTotal Nitrogen (7A8; %)\n•\tCalcium Carbonate (19B2; %)\n•\tCation Exchange Capacity (15D2; Ammonium Acetate cmol(+/-)/kg)\n•\tSoil texture, clay silt and sand (P10; %)\n•\tSoil digestions (17A3; mg/kg): Ca, K, Mg, Na, S, Al, As, B, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, P, Pb, Sb, Se, Zn.\n\nLab methods associated to the codes above are described in Rayment and Lyons (2010) except for total soil carbon (6H5) and nitrogen (7AH) where Matejovic (1997) is the method reference.\n\nReferences:\n\nRayment, G, Lyons, DJ (2010) 'Soil Chemical Methods - Australasia.' (CSIRO Publishing).\nMatejovic, I., 1997. Determination of carbon and nitrogen in samples of various soils by the dry combustion. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 28(17-18), 1499-1511.\n\n