Characterization of Greenhouse Soil Properties Using Mid-infrared Photoacoustic Spectroscopy

ABSTRACT

Evaluation of soil fertility is required for the sustainable production in greenhouses; however, routine agrochemical analytical methods are not practical since most of them are too time consuming and costly. In this study, Fourier transform midinfrared photoacoustic spectroscopy (FTIR-PAS) was applied as an alternative technique in the fast characterization of greenhouse soils. Nine source clays and 235 soil samples were obtained from different greenhouses in China, and their counterpart open-field soils were also sampled for comparison. The FTIR-PAS spectra of soil clays and soils were recorded with the wave-number range of 600–4000 cm^?1, and clear differences were observed among the spectra; soil organic matter (SOM) and soil clay played the main role in the spectral absorption. Partial least square regression (PLSR) models coupled to optimized spectral pretreatment were used to predict greenhouse soil properties, and FTIR-PAS spectra were closely related to SOM (R² = 0.94) and soil total nitrogen (R² = 0.90). For the other soil properties—such as pH, EC, water extractable P, K, Fe, and Cu—the calibration results were excellent or acceptable. These results suggested that FTIR-PAS could be used to determine most of greenhouse soil properties. Since the technique of FTIR-PAS is rapid and inexpensive, and it requires no sample pretreatment and little sample mass, it can be used in fast characterization of greenhouse soil and is a promising method for the management of greenhouse soil.