A review of the application of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in forestry

Abstract

Forests play a key role in global ecosystem conservation and environmental maintenance. Forestry, which includes plant active components, germplasm resources and vegetation dynamics, has received significant attention. Compared with conventional techniques, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) provides rapid, noninvasive, economically efficient and real time results. In this review, we assess the historical and contemporary applications of qualitative and quantitative analysis using NIRS in forestry, including the discrimination of tree species, seeds, woods, and insect species, and the determination of properties of woods, plant tissues, soils, litters and others. In addition, we consider the disadvantages and future application trend of NIRS in forestry.

Keywords:

• Near-infrared spectroscopy
• chemometrics
• plant materials
• soil

Disclosure statement

The authors declare they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This study was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC31760174), Ten Thousand Talents Program of Yunnan Province (Top-notch Young Talents, YNWR-QNBJ-2019-244) and Basic Research Programs of Science and Technology Department of Yunnan Province (2017FG001 [-081]).