They also will study chemical and physical properties of the soil samples with a method called infrared spectroscopy.
VOA: special.2009.01.20
The particular propertiesofthe volcanic soil are ideal for growing purple potatoes, black truffles, buckwheat, white corn and tomatoes, and Nogue insists the ingredients have a distinct flavour profile compared to the same vegetables and grains grown elsewhere, a characteristic he attributes to the soil's perfect balance of absorption and porosity, as well as its mineral properties.