The application of mid-infrared spectroscopy in the soil properties

Over the past few decades, the importance of soil environment analysis has become a popular social topic. Because soil environment not only determines the living condition for crops, but also decides their productions. There are many conventional methods that could be used to analyze the properties of soils, but they have some disadvantages. For instance, these methods require expertise to operate it, samples must be destroyed in preparation process, running instruments is costly, and getting spectra is ineffective. Thus, finding an eco-friendly and convenient model to analyze soil properties become a leading direction that is required to be solved. Mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy, with broad absorbance range and strong, clear signals, become a common and effective technique in the laboratory. MIR spectroscopy could overcome the limits of the traditional methods, it does not require insipid, tedious, or complex preparation steps, and it provides results with high accuracy. Hence, this article is a general introduction to MIR spectral analysis, and it explained detailly the applications of MIR spectroscopy in soil properties. It not only illustrated the procedures of developing quantitative and classification models based on MIR spectra analysis, but also emphasized on the applications and future sights of MIR spectroscopy in soil environment analysis. MIR spectroscopy can be used to analyze the biological and chemical properties of soils, which is conducive to monitor the living environment for plants. In this way, the state of plants or the production of crops could be optimized. By developing this MIR analytical technique, there would be a significant step being taken in agriculture, botany, zoology, and so on.