Bi-directional reflectance factor of 14 soil classes from Brazil

The spectral reflectance of soils is required for effective use of remote sensing products. The absence of studies concerned with spectral reflectance 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 bi-directional reflectance factor of 111 selected soil samples, grouped in 14 tropical soil classes, taken from 53 sites (São Paulo State, Brazil). The measurements were made with a spectroradiometer operating in the 400 to 2500 nm region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Each soil sample is associated to a set of physical and chemical analyses data, with part of these published in descriptive reports of soil surveys.