Use of Hyperspectral and Biochemical Data from Black Spruce Needles to Map Soils at a Forest Site in Manitoba Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Biochemical assessment of Black Spruce (Picea mariana Mill.) needles collected from trees near Thompson, Manitoba reveals that there are concentrations of potassium (K) in them which reflect the K distribution in the rooting zone. Exchangeable potassium amounts ranged from low to high at lowland/upland locations and were found to be associated with either poorly or well-drained brunisol and luvisol soils. An ammonium-acetate extraction performed on soil samples established that K is in an available form for uptake by the Spruce trees overlying them. A relatively high degree of correlation exists between plant K content and its magnitude in the soil (r=0.868). Comparison of mean spectral signatures between needles with low and high K concentrations showed statistically significant differences in their response patterns in the green and infrared edge wavelength regions. Pearson Product Moment correlation analysis of foliar K content and original and first derivative spectra found that these differences were, to a considerable degree, attributable to K content variability. These relationships indicate that hyperspectral scrutiny of Spruce needles, in conjunction with biochemical examination, may be a useful method for indirectly mapping upland and lowland soils in this area. 1998, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.

published proceedings

  • Canadian Journal of Remote Sensing

author list (cited authors)

  • Cwick, G. J., Aide, M. T., & Bishop, M. P.

citation count

  • 5

complete list of authors

  • Cwick, GJ||Aide, MT||Bishop, MP

publication date

  • January 1998