1. Introduction
While it is now possible for researchers to carry out accurate physical and chemical analyses of soil samples within the laboratory, these analyses are often time-consuming and expensive. For researchers in the field presented with a soil profile of quantifiable colour, a level of experience is required in order to estimate the chemical and physical properties of that profile, and this estimation is less accurate than laboratory methods and subject to subjective interpretation and local conditions. If it was possible for a scientist in the field to make a rapid and accurate assessment of soil chemical and physical characteristics, it would be possible to provide information to land managers regarding the ‘quality’ of their soil in a more timely and cost-effective manner. Here we present an approach that allows prediction of soil physical and chemical parameters based solely on colour, and demonstrate its effectiveness for particular parameters.