Evaluating the particle densities of subarctic soils using pedotransfer functions and vis–NIR spectroscopy

• Published in: Soil Science Society of America Journal
• Main Authors: Weber, Peter L., Hermansen, Cecilie, Norgaard, Trine, Pesch, Charles, Møldrup, Per, Greve, Mogens Humlekrog, Arthur, Emmanuel, de Jonge, Lis Wollesen
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2022
• Subjects: Greenland; greenlandic; Subarctic
• Online Access: https://vbn.aau.dk/da/publications/c862abd6-e15c-4526-a300-75e5d61325cd; https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.20410; https://vbn.aau.dk/ws/files/482467827/Soil_Science_Soc_of_Amer_J_2022_Weber_Evaluating_the_particle_densities_of_subarctic_soils_using_pedotransfer.pdf; http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85131520051&partnerID=8YFLogxK

The particle density (ρ s ) is a fundamental physical property needed for calculating the soil porosity and phase distributions. While ρ s is often estimated using soil organic matter (SOM) content and particle size distribution, the specific densities of each soil component remain unclear in a subarctic agricultural setting. This study aimed to evaluate the ρ s of soils from Southwest Greenland using a three-compartment model (3CM) based on the mixing ratio of SOM derived from loss-on-ignition, mineral particles <20 μm (FC), and mineral particles ≥20 μm (CC). We further evaluated the accuracy of the 3CM against pedotransfer functions (PTFs) and visible near-infrared (vis–NIR) spectroscopic models. A total of 324 soil samples from 16 Greenlandic agricultural fields were investigated, covering a wide range in SOM content (0.021–0.602 kg kg –1 ) and clay content (0.020–0.185 kg kg –1 ). Despite their high SOM content, the Greenlandic soils exhibited relatively high ρ s (1.936–3.044 Mg m –3 ), which together with a large SOM/organic carbon ratio of 2.16 indicated a high SOM density of 1.493 Mg m –3 . The 3CM fit on all soils indicated FC and CC densities of 3.047 and 2.713 Mg m –3 , respectively, while a subset of soils (n = 203) from the same geological setting resulted in FC and CC densities of 2.738 and 2.731 Mg m –3 . Prediction accuracy of the 3CM (RMSE = 0.067 Mg m –3 ) was similar to PTFs (RMSE = 0.068–0.070 Mg m –3 ) and better than vis–NIR spectroscopic models (RMSE = 0.091 Mg m –3 ).