Esalq group creates online platform for soil analysis

The Geotechnology in Soil Science group (Geocis), at the Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture (Esalq/USP), coordinated by Prof. José Alexandre Demattê, has just made available an online platform with free access to the public where it is possible to obtain estimates of the content of some soil properties, based on spectroscopy. This is the Brazilian Soil Spectral Service (BraSpecS), which can be accessed at www.besbbr.com.br.  

The objectives of this platform are several, in particular, to disseminate the technology and enable the user to learn about the topic, use it for experimental purposes and, finally, to allow communication between researchers in Brazil and around the world. “This initiative should speed up carbon analysis, as well as allow quick interaction between users. Access is free. The only requirement is to have a ground spectrum, which must be inserted into the platform", comments the teacher. 

Within the tool there is a prediction model that makes estimates and provides results that are sent in the form of a report directly to the email address that the user registered. “The model was developed with 45.000 standard soil samples from Brazil and robustly tested with both national and international data from 65 countries”, adds Demattê. 

The platform is still at an experimental level and should not be used as the only means of obtaining soil information, but as a prediction that will allow us to indicate its attributes. 

The details, its operation and characteristics were recently published in an important international magazine (click here).