Near-infrared, mid-infrared or combined diffuse reflectance spectroscopy for assessing soil fertility in rice fields in sub-Saharan Africa

Assessment and monitoring of soil resources is needed for ensuring environmental sustainability of rice production in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy has the potential to offer means to evaluate and monitor soils at large scale in an efficient, affordable and timely manner. However, its accuracy for predicting chemical and physical properties of soils under rice cultivation is little known.