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Laser-based spectroscopic methods to evaluate the humification degree of soil organic matter in whole soils: a review

  • Natural Organic Matter: Chemistry, Function and Fate in the Environment
  • Published:
Journal of Soils and Sediments Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The objective of this review is to survey critically the results obtained by the application of laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (LIFS) and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) to the evaluation of the humification degree (HD) of soil organic matter (SOM) directly in untreated, intact whole soils.

Materials and methods

A large number of soils of various origin and nature, either native or under various cultivations, land use, and management, at various depths, have been studied to evaluate the HD of their SOM directly in intact whole samples. The LIFS spectra were obtained by either a bench or a portable argon laser apparatus that emits UV-VIS light of high power, whereas the LIBS spectra were obtained using a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser at 1064 nm.

Results and discussion

The close correlations found by comparing HLIF values of whole soil samples with values of earlier proposed humification indexes confirmed the applicability of LIFS to assess the HD of SOM in whole soils. The high correlation found between HDLIBS values and HLIF values showed the promising potential of LIBS for the evaluation HD of SOM.

Conclusions

The LIFS technique shows to be a valuable alternative to evaluate the HD of SOM by probing directly the whole solid soil sample, thus avoiding the use of any previous chemical and/or physical treatments or separation procedures of SOM from the mineral soil matrix. The emerging application of LIBS to evaluate the HD of SOM in whole soils appears promising and appealing due to its sensitivity, selectivity, accuracy, and precision.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CNR, Istituto di Nanotecnologia (NANOTEC), PLASMI Lab, Via Amendola 122/D, 70126, Bari, Italy

    Giorgio S. Senesi

  2. Embrapa Instrumentation, Rua XV de Novembro 1452, São Carlos, SP, 13560-970, Brazil

    Ladislau Martin-Neto, Paulino Ribeiro Villas-Boas, Gustavo Nicolodelli & Débora M. B. P. Milori

Authors
  1. Giorgio S. Senesi
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  2. Ladislau Martin-Neto
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  3. Paulino Ribeiro Villas-Boas
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  4. Gustavo Nicolodelli
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  5. Débora M. B. P. Milori
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Correspondence to Giorgio S. Senesi.

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Responsible editor: Heike Knicker

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Senesi, G.S., Martin-Neto, L., Villas-Boas, P.R. et al. Laser-based spectroscopic methods to evaluate the humification degree of soil organic matter in whole soils: a review. J Soils Sediments 18, 1292–1302 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-016-1539-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-016-1539-6

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