IAPRS & SIS, Vol.34, Part 7, “Resource and Environmental Monitoring”, Hyderabad, India,2002 
  
   
   
  
  
    
  
   
     
     
    
   
  
    
   
  
    
    
     
     
    
  
    
   
   
    
    
    
    
     
  
   
        
1998), these soils are grouped under coarse-loamy, mixed, 
hyperthermic family of Typic Ustorthents. 
The soil reflectance (Fig. 1) increase from 5 per cent at 350 nm 
to 18 per cent at 600 nm, 32 per cent at 900 nm and almost 42 
per cent at 1200 nm. The maximum reflectance (52%) was 
noticed around 1700 nm. The shape of the spectral curve is 
linear between 350 to 900 nm and slightly convex between 900- 
1200 and 1500-1800 nm. The soils have four conspicuous 
absorption bands located at 750 nm, 950 nm, 1100 nm and 
1300 nm. 
  
  
60 
50 4 LEN 
À 
AQ 4 e 
  
Reflectance (96) 
a 
© 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
20 4 / ze 
V4 -— Bath 
10 4 y — Mahergaon 
# — Karan Prayag 
0 7 7 1 : 
0.3 0.6 0.9 12 15 1.8 
Wavelength (um) 
  
Figure 1. Spectral curves of low altitude soils 
Baijnath soils: Soils are deep to very deep, brown (10YR 5/3 
D&M), sandy loam at surface, moderately well drained, 
moderately acid (pH 5.7) occurring on cultivated broad river 
terraces. These soils are classified as coarse-loamy, mixed, 
hyperthermic family of Typic Haplustepts. 
The spectral reflectance of Baijnath soil (Fig 1) increased from 
5 per cent at 350 nm to 22 per cent at 600 nm, 34 per cent at 
900 nm and 38 per cent at 1200 nm. Maximum spectral 
reflectance was recorded at 1700 nm where it reached to almost 
4] per cent. The shape of the curve is slightly concave between 
350-600 nm and convex between 600 and 900 nm and almost 
flat between 900-1800 nm with conspicuous absorption bands 
at 950 and 1100 nm. 
Mahergaon soils: Soils are deep, light yellowish brown 
(2.5Y6/4 D) and very dark grayish brown (10YR4/3 M), loam 
at surface, well drained, moderately acid (pH 5.8) occurring on 
cultivated hill terraces. These soils are classified as fine-loamy, 
mixed, hyperthermic family of Typic Haplustepts. 
The spectral reflectance of Mahergaon soil (Fig. 1) increase 
from about 4 per cent at 350 nm to 18 per cent at 600 nm, 30 
per cent at 900 nm and about 40 per cent at 1200 nm. 
Maximum spectral reflectance was recorded at 1700 nm where 
it reached to almost 54 per cent. The shape of the curve was 
linear between 350 to 1200 nm and convex between 1500 to 
1800 nm with conspicuous absorption at 950 and 1100 nm. 
3.4 Soils of mid-altitudes 
Pithoragarh soils: Soils are deep to very deep, olive brown 
(2.5Y6/6 D), silt loam at surface, moderately well drained, 
moderately acid (pH 5.9) occurring on broad terraces of the 
Pithoragarh valley. These soils are grouped under fine-silty, 
mixed, thermic family of Ultic Hapludalfs. 
The spectral reflectance of Pithoragarh soil (Fig. 2) increases 
from 5 per cent at 350 nm to 25 per cent at 600 nm, 40 per cent 
at 900 nm and 45 per cent at 1200 nm. The maximum 
reflectance was recorded at 1650 nm where it reached to almost 
49 per cent. The shape of the curve is slightly concave between 
350 to 600 nm and slightly convex between 600 to 1200 and 
almost flat between 1500 to 1800 nm. The prominent 
absorption bands are noticed at 750, 900, 1100 and 1275 nm. 
Pandukeshwar soils: Soils are deep, dark grayish brown 
(10YR4/2 D) and very dark brown (10YR4/2 M) sandy loam at 
  
  
60 
Un 
e 
À 
A 
e 
1 
    
  
Reflectance (96) 
22 
e 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
20 4 
— Pandukeshwar 
10 1 — Chaukori 
— Pithoragarh 
0 : 
0.3 0.6 0.9 L2 Ls 1.8 
  
  
Wavelength (um) 
  
Figure 2. Spectral curves of mid altitude soils 
surface, slightly acid (pH 6.5) occurring on hill terraces under 
potato cultivation. These soils are grouped under coarse-loamy 
mixed, thermic family of Typic Hapludolls.The spectral 
reflectance of Pandukeshwar soil (Fig. 2) increases from 4 per 
cent at 350 nm to 11 per cent at 600 nm, 26 per cent at 900 nm 
and 38 per cent at 1200 nm. The maximum reflectance was 
recorded at 1700 nm where it reached to almost 48 per cent. 
The shape of the curve is concave between 350 to 900 nm and 
linear between 900 and 1200 nm and slightly convex between 
1500 and 1800 nm. The reflectance curve of the soils showed 
two absorption bands located at 950 and 1100 nm. 
Chaukori soils: Soils are deep to very deep, brown (10YR4/3 ' 
D) and dark brown (10YR3/3 M) loam at surface, well drained, 
strongly acid (pH 5.4) occurring on break of hill slopes under 
banj forest. These soils are classified as fine-loamy, mixed, 
thermic family of Typic Argiudolls. 
The spectral reflectance from Chaukori soil (Fig. 2) increased 
from 4 per cent at 350 nm to 15 per cent at 600 nm, 30 per cent 
at 900 nm and 41 per cent at 1200 nm. The maximum 
reflectance of 50 per cent was noticed at 1700 nm. The spectral 
curve of soil showed two prominent absorption bands at 950 
and 1100 nm and a weak absorption band at 750 nm 
wavelength. 
3.5 Soils of high altitudes 
Auli soils: Soils are deep to very deep, very dark grayish 
brown: (10YR3/2 D) loam at surface, strongly acid (pH 5.2) 
occurring on high hill slopes under pasture. These soils are 
classified as fine-loamy, mixed, mesic family of Humic Lithic 
Dystrudepts. 
The reflectance from Auli soil (Fig. 3) increases from about 4 
per cent at 350 nm to 17 per cent at 600 nm, 30 per cent at 900 
    
nm and 
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shape o 
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Un 
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Reflectance (%) 
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The m 
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Soils