Shortwave infrared spectral reflectance of plant litter and soils

Acquiring and understanding the spectral reflectance of two non-photosynthetically active materials, plant litter and soils, is important for interpreting vegetative landscapes. The goal of this research is to develop robust remote sensing techniques to discriminate plant litter from soils. Spectral reflectance of wet and dry soil and litter (crop, forest, and grass) in the 0.4-2.5 /spl mu/m wavelength range was measured. An absorption feature at 2.1 /spl mu/m in the spectrum of dry litter, associated with cellulose, was not present in soils. Water absorption dominated the spectral properties of both soils and litter, but discrimination of wet litter from wet soil was possible. Plant litter reflectance is a verifiable component in vegetative landscapes and should be labeled and modeled separately from soils in landscape studies.