Summary
This paper evaluates the performance of miniaturised visible and near-infrared spectrometers for rapid assessment of soil health indicators in post-mining rehabilitation contexts. Topsoil samples from reference native vegetation and disturbed stockpiles at seven Western Australian mine sites were analysed using miniaturised and full-range spectrometers. The findings demonstrate that combined miniaturised visible and NIR spectrometers achieve comparable accuracy to substantially more expensive full-range systems for estimating soil physical, chemical, and biological properties, supporting their adoption in field-based soil health monitoring.
Regional applicability
This study was conducted in Western Australia and focused on mine site rehabilitation soils, which may not directly represent United Kingdom agricultural or restoration contexts. However, the methodology and instrumental approach are transferable; UK soil scientists and environmental practitioners involved in land restoration, particularly in post-industrial or mining-affected regions, could adapt these spectroscopic approaches for rapid soil health assessment. The specific calibrations would require validation against UK soil types and conditions.
Key measures
Lin's concordance correlation (ρc) for spectroscopic model predictions of 29 soil properties; spectrometer repeatability; accuracy comparisons between miniaturised spectrometers (individually and combined), full-range portable spectrometer, and seven statistical and machine learning algorithms
Outcomes reported
The study evaluated the ability of four miniaturised visible and near-infrared spectrometers, individually and in combination, to estimate 29 soil physical, chemical, and biological health properties from topsoil samples collected at seven Western Australian mine sites. The miniaturised spectrometers predicted 24 of 29 soil properties with moderate or greater accuracy (Lin's concordance correlation ≥0.65), with combined visible and NIR spectrometers approaching the accuracy of full-range portable systems at substantially lower cost.
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