A shea general review of all aspects of the NMR technique, in both the
spectroscopic and imaging modes, as applied to the study of soil, is
presented from a mainly technical point of view. Illustrations, in the
form of spectra and images, are reproduced for whole soils, solids, s
olid fractions, and liquid extracts from material in the authors' grou
p. Nuclides covered are H-1, C-13, N-15, Al-27, and P-31. For solid sa
mples the techniques employed include CP/MAS with and without TOSS, an
d for liquid-state studies the first high field (14.1 T) examples for
soils in both one and two frequency dimensions are presented. For imag
ing further results from the first application of the stray field (STR
AFI) technique applied to water in soil are given showing distortion-f
ree images of both bound and free water. Finally, the first electron n
uclear double resonance (ENDOR) and pulsed EPR results on soils will b
e illustrated. This paper is a slightly expanded version of an introdu
ctory talk of 35 minutes and so is not discursive. In particular the b
enefits of the techniques presented to soil science are only touched o
n. Other speakers present papers elsewhere in this issue which expand
on particular aspects of the utility of NMR studies of soils. (C) 1997
Elsevier Science B.V.