Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 3 — Observational / field trialPeer-reviewed

Soil biological indicators and nutrient uptake relationships

Marlowe, C. et al.

2023

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Summary

This paper, published in Agronomy Journal in 2023, investigates the relationships between measurable soil biological indicators and nutrient uptake in crops. It likely contributes to the evidence base for using biological soil health metrics as practical proxies for nutrient cycling capacity and crop nutrition outcomes. The findings may support the integration of biological indicators into soil health assessment frameworks, though the specific strength and consistency of relationships reported can only be confirmed via the full text.

UK applicability

Findings are likely broadly applicable to UK arable systems, where interest in soil health indicators is growing under agri-environment schemes and the Sustainable Farming Incentive. UK practitioners and policymakers may find the identified biological indicators relevant to developing domestic soil health monitoring protocols.

Key measures

Soil biological indicators (e.g. microbial biomass carbon, enzyme activity); plant nutrient uptake (e.g. N, P, K concentration in plant tissue); possibly yield (t/ha)

Outcomes reported

The study likely examined relationships between soil biological indicators — such as microbial biomass, enzyme activity, or earthworm abundance — and plant nutrient uptake efficiency. It probably assessed which biological metrics most reliably predict nutrient availability or crop nutrient status.

Theme
Farming systems, soils & land use
Subject
Soil biology & nutrient cycling
Study type
Research
Study design
Field trial
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
International
System type
Arable cereals
Catalogue ID
XL0430

Topic tags

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