August 2021 SoilSpec4GG Newsletter

Hello soil spectroscopy friends,

Summer has been a bit slow and we have been remiss in communicating with this group.
We've been continuing to make progress on multiple fronts:

1) The Open Soil Spectral Library and API are nearly ready for testing. More details on this
to follow in the next few weeks. The initial database will include the KSSL MIR spectral
library, the ICRAF-ISRIC MIR spectral library, the KSSL VNIR spectral library and the Congo
Basin MIR spectral library.

2) We've started working with a group of developers to build a user interface. The next
meeting of the User Experience working group is on Monday 23 August 930 EDT / 1530
CEST and will last 90 minutes. We will talk through a few use cases and try to come up with
a sketch of what the web-based portal can look like. If you are not already on the UX
working group and would like to join the meeting, please send an email and I'll forward the
invitation.

3) We've been working to organize a ring-trial of soil samples to better understand the
scope of variability between laboratories and to enable a number of labs to calibrate their
instruments to the KSSL MIR soil spectral library. As soon as we have final confirmation on
the exact sample list (from the large quantity control samples the KSSL maintains – see
image below), we will send out more information for labs that would like to receive these
samples. There will be a limit on the number of sample sets, so we might need to create a
prioritization system with the first priority being the GLOSOLAN Regional Champion Labs.
4) A group (A Gholizadeh, Z Pittaki-Chrysodonta, J Huang, R Ferguson, J Sanderman) has
been working with a large calibration transfer set between the KSSL MIR library and a
Bruker Alpha unit to better understand minimum and optimal size transfer sets. Consistent
with Pittaki-Chrysodonta et al. 2021, we found that the Spectral Space Transformation
method provided the overall best results with the fewest number of transfer samples.
However, this work also showed that for some soil properties, spectral pre-treatment with
first derivative was just as good as or even better than the best calibration transfer. With
many things soil spectroscopy, there does not seem to be a one-size-fits-all solution.

5) We are starting to think about holding an in-person workshop next summer, perhaps
taking advantage of the World Congress of Soil Science being in Glasgow. We really hope
travel and gatherings will be safe by then.

6) In case you missed it, GLOSOLAN has organized a great set of speakers for a series of
training presentations on soil spectroscopy starting 6 Sept 2021.

Thanks for being part of this network and feel free to reach out at any time with comments,
suggestions or concerns. With best wishes, the SoilSpec4GG team.

Award # 2020-67021-32467