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Soil biological criteria as indicators of soil quality: Soil microorganisms

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2009

Suzanne Visser  and
Dennis Parkinson
Suzanne Visser
Affiliation:
Research Associate, Environmental Research Centre, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, CanadaT2N 1N4.
Dennis Parkinson
Affiliation:
Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, CanadaT2N 1N4.
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Abstract

Diverse soil microbiological studies have attempted to assess deterioration or improvement in soil quality. These studies have been done on three levels: population level studies of the dynamics of species that are presumed to be important or sensitive; community level studies of microbial community structure, such as species diversity and frequency of occurence of species; and ecosystem level studies of a range of soil processes. We suggest that ecosystem level approaches offer the best possibilities for rapidly assessing changes in soil quality. Data from such studies will allow researchers to decide whether to proceed with population or community level studies.

Keywords

soil bacteriasoil fungitotal microbial biomasscarbon cyclingnitrogen cyclingnutrient leachingsoil enzymes
Type
Articles
Information
American Journal of Alternative Agriculture , Volume 7 , Issue 1-2: Special Issue on Soil Quality , June 1992 , pp. 33 - 37
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1992

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