BIDIRECTIONAL REFLECTANCE FACTOR OF 14 SOIL CLASSES FROM BRAZIL

The spectral reflectance of soils is required for effective use of rem ote sensing products. The absence of studies concerned with spectral r eflectance of the soils from the tropical region in the 400 to 2500 nm spectral range is the main motivation of this research. The objective of this study was to present spectral reflectance data from different tropical soil types. This spectral characterization was done through measurements of the hi-directional reflectance factor of III selected soil samples, grouped in 14 tropical soil classes, taken from 53 sites (Sao Paulo State, Brazil). The measurements were made with a spectror adiometer operating in the 400 to 2500 nm region of the electromagneti c spectrum. Each soil sample is associated to a set of physical and ch emical analyses data, with part of these published in descriptive repo rts of soil surveys.