Soil erosion assessment using proximal spectral reflectance in VIS-NIR-SWIR region in sample area of Calabria region (southern Italy)

The purpose of this study was to delineate eroded zones in arepresentative sample area of southern Italy, using SOM as a keyindicators. To do that, was to test the use of laboratory VIS-NIRSWIRspectroscopy as fast and accurate technique to develop anempirical model for predicting SOM. A calibration modelbetween SOM and soil spectral reflectance measurements wasdeveloped using a PLSR statistical method. (VISCARRA ROSSELLet alii, 2006). Finally, a geostatistical approach was employed tomap spatial pattern of SOM, obtained from the laboratorymeasurements and the ones predicted from the soil spectralreflectance data, that consequently provide a characterize spatialvariability of the soil erosion severity.