Soil analysis using nuclear techniques: A literature review of the gamma ray attenuation method

The gamma ray attenuation method (GAM) has been used with success in soil science since the fifties of the last century. Several soil properties can be measured directly or indirectly in a fast, non-destructive and accurate way using GAM. This review paper has as main objectives to discuss briefly the first uses of GAM in the soil sciences, to revise the main equations utilized for measuring soil properties, to show some applications to highlight the potential of the technique and to point out possible future studies with GAM.