Agriengineering, Volume 7, Issue 3 , 01/03/2025

Decoding Soil Color: Origins, Influences, and Methods of Analysis

Yaowarat Sirisathitkul, Chitnarong Sirisathitkul

Abstract

Soil color serves as a critical indicator of its properties and conditions. It is shaped by a complex interplay of mineral and organic matter content, moisture levels, and other environmental variables. Additionally, human activities such as land-use changes and intensive agricultural practices can profoundly alter soil color. Soil color, driven by the presence of organic matter, plays a crucial role in understanding soil fertility. Its strong correlation with soil organic carbon content makes it a valuable parameter for assessing soil quality in agricultural practices. A variety of techniques have been developed to measure soil color, ranging from traditional Munsell color matching to modern color meters. Digital image colorimetry enables rapid on-site assessments of soil color, but environmental conditions such as soil water content and lighting conditions should be considered. Spectroscopic methods, particularly diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, pave the way for a more reliable and accurate composition analysis. Advances in remote sensing and computational methods are combined to explore the intricate relationships between soil color and environmental factors. Such an integrated approach not only enhances scalability but also leads to more insights and actionable strategies for environmental management and sustainable agriculture.

Document Type

Review

Source Type

Journal

Keywords

color spacecolorimetrydigital imageremote sensingsoil

ASJC Subject Area

Agricultural and Biological Sciences : Agronomy and Crop ScienceAgricultural and Biological Sciences : Food ScienceAgricultural and Biological Sciences : HorticultureEngineering : Engineering (miscellaneous)


Bibliography


Sirisathitkul, Y., & Sirisathitkul, C. (2025). Decoding Soil Color: Origins, Influences, and Methods of Analysis. Agriengineering, 7(3) doi:10.3390/agriengineering7030058

Copy | Save