Brightness Values-Based Discriminant Functions for Classification of Degrees of Organic Matter Decomposition in Soil Thin Sections

The decomposition of organic matter represents a fundamental pedogenetic process, since it impacts the carbon cycle and the release of nutrients to the soil. However, quantitative research aimed at micro-scale in situ analysis is scarce, despite its relevance in the decomposition process. Therefore,...

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Main Authors: Tania González-Vargas, Ma Del Carmen Gutiérrez-Castorena
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2022-05-01
Series:Spanish Journal of Soil Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontierspartnerships.org/articles/10.3389/sjss.2022.10348/full
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author Tania González-Vargas
Ma Del Carmen Gutiérrez-Castorena
author_facet Tania González-Vargas
Ma Del Carmen Gutiérrez-Castorena
author_sort Tania González-Vargas
collection DOAJ
description The decomposition of organic matter represents a fundamental pedogenetic process, since it impacts the carbon cycle and the release of nutrients to the soil. However, quantitative research aimed at micro-scale in situ analysis is scarce, despite its relevance in the decomposition process. Therefore, the objectives of this research were to generate discriminating functions of the degrees of organic matter decomposition, based on the brightness values associated with each morphological stage, and from this step, to generate thematic maps. Soil thin sections of forest and compost soils were selected, and petrographic microscope images with three light sources were taken: plane polarized light (PPL), crossed-polarized light (XPL), and crossed polarizers and a retardation plate (gypsum compensator) inserted (XPLλ). Subsequently, the RGB (red, green, blue) image was broken down into three bands, resulting in nine bands for each image. Two thousand sampling points were generated for each band, obtaining brightness values for each decomposed organic matter stage. The points were classified into four categories based on their degree of decomposition: no (A), light (B), moderate (C), and strong (D), in addition to porosity (P). Linear discriminant analysis was performed to obtain classification models for each level of decomposition. The results show that each degree of organic matter decomposition can be highlighted through specific light sources and a set of bands, with an overall accuracy of >94% and kappa coefficients of >0.75 for all classes. In addition, the resulting functions were validated in training images and high-resolution mosaics to create final thematic maps. The use of linear models automated the production and quality of thematic maps at the microscopic level, which can be useful in monitoring the organic matter decomposition process.
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spelling doaj.art-e319e4acc413407ab8647d071c5c4bd02024-04-04T16:09:33ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Spanish Journal of Soil Science2253-65742022-05-011210.3389/sjss.2022.1034810348Brightness Values-Based Discriminant Functions for Classification of Degrees of Organic Matter Decomposition in Soil Thin SectionsTania González-VargasMa Del Carmen Gutiérrez-CastorenaThe decomposition of organic matter represents a fundamental pedogenetic process, since it impacts the carbon cycle and the release of nutrients to the soil. However, quantitative research aimed at micro-scale in situ analysis is scarce, despite its relevance in the decomposition process. Therefore, the objectives of this research were to generate discriminating functions of the degrees of organic matter decomposition, based on the brightness values associated with each morphological stage, and from this step, to generate thematic maps. Soil thin sections of forest and compost soils were selected, and petrographic microscope images with three light sources were taken: plane polarized light (PPL), crossed-polarized light (XPL), and crossed polarizers and a retardation plate (gypsum compensator) inserted (XPLλ). Subsequently, the RGB (red, green, blue) image was broken down into three bands, resulting in nine bands for each image. Two thousand sampling points were generated for each band, obtaining brightness values for each decomposed organic matter stage. The points were classified into four categories based on their degree of decomposition: no (A), light (B), moderate (C), and strong (D), in addition to porosity (P). Linear discriminant analysis was performed to obtain classification models for each level of decomposition. The results show that each degree of organic matter decomposition can be highlighted through specific light sources and a set of bands, with an overall accuracy of >94% and kappa coefficients of >0.75 for all classes. In addition, the resulting functions were validated in training images and high-resolution mosaics to create final thematic maps. The use of linear models automated the production and quality of thematic maps at the microscopic level, which can be useful in monitoring the organic matter decomposition process.https://www.frontierspartnerships.org/articles/10.3389/sjss.2022.10348/fulllinear discriminant analysismicromorphometrythematic mapssupervised trainingvariable selection
spellingShingle Tania González-Vargas
Ma Del Carmen Gutiérrez-Castorena
Brightness Values-Based Discriminant Functions for Classification of Degrees of Organic Matter Decomposition in Soil Thin Sections
Spanish Journal of Soil Science
linear discriminant analysis
micromorphometry
thematic maps
supervised training
variable selection
title Brightness Values-Based Discriminant Functions for Classification of Degrees of Organic Matter Decomposition in Soil Thin Sections
title_full Brightness Values-Based Discriminant Functions for Classification of Degrees of Organic Matter Decomposition in Soil Thin Sections
title_fullStr Brightness Values-Based Discriminant Functions for Classification of Degrees of Organic Matter Decomposition in Soil Thin Sections
title_full_unstemmed Brightness Values-Based Discriminant Functions for Classification of Degrees of Organic Matter Decomposition in Soil Thin Sections
title_short Brightness Values-Based Discriminant Functions for Classification of Degrees of Organic Matter Decomposition in Soil Thin Sections
title_sort brightness values based discriminant functions for classification of degrees of organic matter decomposition in soil thin sections
topic linear discriminant analysis
micromorphometry
thematic maps
supervised training
variable selection
url https://www.frontierspartnerships.org/articles/10.3389/sjss.2022.10348/full
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