Analysing soils by optical-electronic spectroscopic methods benefits from little sample preparation and a simultaneous determination of a suite of soil attributes from one scan, which both have contributed to establish, for instance, vis-NIR and MIR spectroscopy as efficient laboratory and, in recent years, field-applicable methods. An optimized use of soil spectroscopy is tied to, for example, technical advancements in the field of sensor development, adequate soil sampling strategies (2D and 3D), the advancement of chemometric methods by new algorithms, the blending and synoptic use of different sensor data and the application of soil spectral libraries, among other issues.
Furthermore, spectroscopic analysis is a promising tool to tackle new emerging demands such as soil contamination with microplastic. On the other hand, attempts to identify soil functions such as soil microbial activities require a critical review.

The Special Issue solicits forward-looking contributions, reviews, mini-reviews, and original research that describe the latest research contributions to this field and give insight into the greatest challenges currently existing and how to address these challenges for future innovations.

Fee Support
As a Gold open-access journal, all submissions are subject to publishing fees. Authors can benefit from financial support from their institution through Frontiers' Institutional Agreements. For full details please see the journals Publishing Fees page. Members of the SECS are also entitled to a 30% discount off their publishing fees.

Please contact the Editorial Office if you have any questions.

Article types and fees

This Special Issue accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Special Issue description:

• Brief Research Report
• Commentary
• Editorial
• Letter to the Editor
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Review

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Special Issue accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Special Issue description:

• Brief Research Report
• Commentary
• Editorial
• Letter to the Editor
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Review

Keywords: soil spectroscopy, soil science, soil, spectroscopy, MIR spectroscopy, V-NIR spectroscopy, soil contamination