Use of chromameter-measured color parameters in estimating color-related soil variables.

摘要

Soil color is a soil property that may be used as an interpreting index in estimating processes and properties. Quantifying color allows one to obtain information for rapidly estimating the related processes in soils. CIELAB color parameters L*, a*, and b* of ground (air-dried and sieved) soil samples and aggregate surfaces of four soil profiles formed in calcareous colluviums in northern Turkey were analyzed. Values of color parameters measured in ground and intact soils were compared and related to soil properties by the regression technique. Results revealed that the L* value obtained with a ground soil sample was a significant predictor of organic matter in A horizons (p<0.001). Although calcic horizons yielded the highest L* values, no significant relationship was obtained between calcium carbonate contents and lightness of soils in any of horizons studied. The parameters of b* could adequately be used to quantify dithionite-extractable iron oxide contents in soils studied. The results further showed that the CIELAB color parameters obtained with ground samples were more informative than that of aggrevated samples in relating color parameters to soil properties.