Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Peer-reviewed

Suitability of microbial and organic matter indicators for on‐farm soil health monitoring

Sabine Huber, Luca Giuliano Bernardini, Alexandra Bennett, Julia Fohrafellner, Katharina Dohnke, Magdalena Bieber, Francesco Vuolo, Axel Mentler, Gernot Bodner, Katharina Keiblinger

Soil Use and Management · 2023

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Summary

Abstract In addition to standard laboratory testing of soil samples, on‐farm soil health monitoring methods are needed to help farmers assess progress in adopting new management practices. However, there is currently a lack of studies evaluating the suitability of semi‐quantitative on‐farm indicators to accurately rank target soil properties according to laboratory results. Therefore, this study assessed methods with potential for field use compared to common laboratory approaches for the determination of (i) soil organic carbon (SOC), (ii) carbon (C) fractions and (iii) microbial activity. The comparison allowed the evaluation of the validity, practicality and cost‐effectiveness of the approaches. For this purpose, three sites in north‐eastern Austria with contrasting soil textures (light

Subject
Soil carbon & organic matter
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
System type
Other
DOI
10.1111/sum.12993
Catalogue ID
SNmov5jpbp-rspp3o
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