Summary
This paper by Creamer et al. (2016), published in Ecological Indicators, presents an ecological approach to measuring soil quality by integrating biological, chemical, and physical indicators into a coherent assessment framework. The study likely draws on data from multiple land-use systems to evaluate indicator sensitivity and relevance, contributing to ongoing efforts to standardise soil quality measurement across agricultural and natural landscapes. It is likely grounded in a European context and may inform both scientific monitoring programmes and policy frameworks relating to soil health.
UK applicability
This paper is likely highly applicable to UK conditions, as Creamer and colleagues were based at Teagasc and connected to broader European soil monitoring networks including the RECARE and EcoFINDERS projects; the indicator frameworks discussed would be relevant to UK soil health monitoring policy, including Natural England and Defra's work on soil assessment.
Key measures
Soil biological indicators (e.g. microbial biomass, invertebrate communities); soil chemical indicators (e.g. pH, organic carbon, nutrient status); soil physical indicators (e.g. bulk density, texture); composite soil quality indices
Outcomes reported
The study evaluated a suite of ecological indicators — likely spanning biological, chemical, and physical soil properties — to assess their utility in measuring soil quality. It proposed or validated a framework for integrating these indicators into a coherent soil quality index applicable across different land-use types.
Topic tags
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