Shadow analysis: A method for measuring soil surface roughness

García Moreno, Rosario and Saa Requejo, Antonio and Tarquis Alfonso, Ana Maria and Barrington, S. and Diaz Alvarez, Maria Cruz (2008). Shadow analysis: A method for measuring soil surface roughness. "Geoderma", v. 146 (n. 1-2); pp. 201-208. ISSN 0016-7061. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2008.05.026.

Description

Title: Shadow analysis: A method for measuring soil surface roughness
Author/s:
  • García Moreno, Rosario
  • Saa Requejo, Antonio
  • Tarquis Alfonso, Ana Maria
  • Barrington, S.
  • Diaz Alvarez, Maria Cruz
Item Type: Article
Título de Revista/Publicación: Geoderma
Date: July 2008
ISSN: 0016-7061
Volume: 146
Subjects:
Freetext Keywords: Micro-relief, Soil surface roughness, Pin meter, Ro0ughness indexes, Image analysis.
Faculty: E.T.S.I. Agrónomos (UPM) [antigua denominación]
Department: Edafología [hasta 2014]
Creative Commons Licenses: Recognition - No derivative works - Non commercial

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Abstract

Erosion potential and the effects of tillage can be evaluated from quantitative descriptions of soil surface roughness. The present study therefore aimed to fill the need for a reliable, low-cost and convenient method to measure that parameter. Based on the interpretation of micro-topographic shadows, this new procedure is primarily designed for use in the field after tillage. The principle underlying shadow analysis is the direct relationship between soil surface roughness and the shadows cast by soil structures under fixed sunlight conditions. The results obtained with this method were compared to the statistical indexes used to interpret field readings recorded by a pin meter. The tests were conducted on 4-m2 sandy loam and sandy clay loam plots divided into 1-m2 subplots tilled with three different tools: chisel, tiller and roller. The highly significant correlation between the statistical indexes and shadow analysis results obtained in the laboratory as well as in the field for all the soil–tool combinations proved that both variability (CV) and dispersion (SD) are accommodated by the new method. This procedure simplifies the interpretation of soil surface roughness and shortens the time involved in field operations by a factor ranging from 12 to 20.

More information

Item ID: 2981
DC Identifier: https://oa.upm.es/2981/
OAI Identifier: oai:oa.upm.es:2981
DOI: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2008.05.026
Official URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=Publicati...
Deposited by: Memoria Investigacion
Deposited on: 03 May 2010 10:09
Last Modified: 20 Apr 2016 12:35
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