Spectral prediction of soil degradation process derived by soil physical crust

This study reports the results of a study that investigated the spectral relationship between structural crust and the infiltration rate of a grumusol soil. Structural crust is a thin compact layer generated on the soil surface after rainstorm events due to raindrop energy. The crust significantly affects several soil physical properties, such as infiltration, runoff and soil erosion. In this study, a controlled spectral investigation of the properties of structural crust, using infiltration rate as an indicator, was carried out. A set of soil samples was subjected to increased levels of cumulative energy from a simulated rainstorm while measuring the infiltration rate. After drying the soil samples, their spectral features across the SWIR region (1.2 /spl mu/m-2.4 /spl mu/m) were studied in the laboratory. Empirical relationships were found between the infiltration rate and reflectance values (either in raw or in first derivative domains). Although further study is required to fully account for other soils, rainstorm energies and water qualities, this technique suggests great potential as a tool for rapid, nondestructive, in situ assessment of crusted soil properties in soils.