A spectro-polarimeter operating in ten spectral bands in the visible and near-IR range has been designed and developed for the measurement of Stokes parameters of reflected radiation from the terrain surfaces under in situ conditions. The radiometric performance and the data quality of the unit have been evaluated and explained. The instrument was extensively used in the field for the collection of spectral signatures of wheat canopies. The unit was also used in the laboratory. All spectral bands were found to be useful for the measurement of absolute values of spectral irradiance and spectral radiance, while bands 1-8 were found to be useful for the measurement of polarization. This article describes the design features and specifications and gives a typical set of field observations.