Development of portable color detector: its application for determination of Munsell Soil Color

Heriyanto Syafutra; Muhammad Khoirul Anam; Faozan Ahmad; Desi Nadalia; Rudi Heryanto; Ganesha Antarnusa; Rofiqul Umam; Hirotaka Takahashi

doi:10.20961/stjssa.v22i1.91351

Authors

Heriyanto Syafutra
hsyafutra@apps.ipb.ac.id
Applied Physics Division, Department of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, IPB University, Bogor , Indonesia http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1712-4590 (unauthenticated)
Muhammad Khoirul Anam Undergraduate Student of Department of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, IPB University, Bogor , Indonesia
Faozan Ahmad Theoretical Physics Division, Department of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, IPB University, Bogor , Indonesia http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6182-0780 (unauthenticated)
Desi Nadalia Department of Soil Sciences and Land Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, IPB University , Indonesia http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5495-7340 (unauthenticated)
Rudi Heryanto Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, IPB University, Bogor , Indonesia
Ganesha Antarnusa Department of Physics Education, Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa, Serang , Indonesia http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3592-9333 (unauthenticated)
Rofiqul Umam The Center for Research in Radiation, Isotopes, and Earth System Sciences (CRiES), University of Tsukuba , Japan http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7095-5967 (unauthenticated)
Hirotaka Takahashi Research Center for Space Science, Advanced Research Laboratories and Department of Design and Data Science, Tokyo City University , Japan http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0596-4397 (unauthenticated)

Vol. 22 No. 1 (2025): June

RESEARCH

Submitted July 29, 2024

Accepted December 10, 2024

Published January 13, 2025

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Soil color is a crucial indicator in soil science and agriculture; it provides information about soil properties and conditions. Typically, surveyors determine soil color by visually comparing the soil samples to the Munsell Soil Color Chart (MSCC). However, the accuracy of this method can be influenced by lighting conditions and the observer's subjectivity, leading to potential inconsistencies. This study introduces a portable color sensor device designed to improve the accuracy and consistency in determining the soil color and its MSCC notation compared to traditional visual methods. The device integrates a TCS3200 color sensor with a microcontroller to automate the color determination process. The device was validated by operating it to determine the color of 12 test paper sheets and four test soil types. The device can determine the color of the tested paper and soil well (100% accuracy); the result is displayed on the Liquid Crystal Display. It consistently achieved 100% accuracy for all measurements with varying ambient light intensity. The device is designed to be portable and easy to use, thus supporting field use for surveyors. Therefore, this device offers significant advantages in soil classification, fertility assessment, and environmental monitoring.

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How to Cite

Syafutra, H., Anam, M. K., Ahmad, F., Nadalia, D., Heryanto, R., Antarnusa, G., Umam, R., & Takahashi, H. (2025). Development of portable color detector: its application for determination of Munsell Soil Color. SAINS TANAH - Journal of Soil Science and Agroclimatology, 22(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.20961/stjssa.v22i1.91351

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Development of portable color detector: its application for determination of Munsell Soil Color

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Hirotaka Takahashi, Research Center for Space Science, Advanced Research Laboratories and Department of Design and Data Science, Tokyo City University

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