Should Soil Testing Services Measure Soil Biological Activity?

@article{Franzluebbers2016ShouldST,
  title={Should Soil Testing Services Measure Soil Biological Activity?},
  author={Alan J. Franzluebbers},
  journal={Agricultural \& Environmental Letters},
  year={2016},
  volume={1}
}
  • A. Franzluebbers
  • Published 2016
  • Environmental Science
  • Agricultural & Environmental Letters
Soil biological activity is a key indicator for productivity and environmental quality. The flush of CO2 possesses many qualities of a robust soil test. Field calibration is underway to relate the flush of CO2 to nitrogen availability. 
View on Wiley
solvita.com
84 Citations
Highly Influential Citations
7
Background Citations
20
Methods Citations
15
Results Citations
1

84 Citations

Solvita and Other Measures as Indicators of Soil N Availability in Minnesota Soils

University of Minnesota M.S. thesis. 2016. Major: Land and Atmospheric Science. Advisors: Deborah Allan, Carl Rosen. 1 computer file (PDF); 72 pages.

Regenerating a soil food web capable of improving soil health and reducing losses from soilborne pests and pathogens of sugarcane: final report 2014/004

4

Adjusting the N fertilizer factor based on soil health as indicated by soil‐test biological activity

Agriculture faces a dilemma with nitrogen (N)—it is often the most necessary external input to optimize production, several generations of farmers became accustomed to its relatively inexpensive…

Labile soil organic carbon for assessing soil quality: influence of management practices and edaphic conditions

Greenhouse growth bioassay confirms soil nitrogen availability indicated by the flush of CO2

Estimating soil nitrogen (N) availability is important for developing effective N fertilizer recommendations for plant growth. We examined the ability of various soil biological properties to predict…

Greenhouse growth bioassay confirms soil nitrogen availability indicated by the flush of CO2

Estimating soil nitrogen (N) availability is important for developing effective N fertilizer recommendations for plant growth. We examined the ability of various soil biological properties to predict…

Soil carbon and nitrogen mineralization after the initial flush of CO2

Soil health evaluation with biological activity requires standardization for greater understanding across environments. Soil‐test biological activity (STBA) may be an important indicator of soil N…

An assessment of soil respiration on two contrasting urban forestry areas using the SolvitaTM Gel System

ABSTRACT Inadequate soil conditions can affect tree health and longevity but there are few tools available to urban foresters to carry out soil assessments. The SolvitaTM Gel System field test,…

Probing deep to express root‐zone enrichment of soil‐test biological activity on southeastern U.S. farms

Soil organic carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) accumulation contributes to improved soil health condition, particularly after a history of tillage‐intensive land use. Soil‐test biological activity (STBA)…

Soil‐Test Biological Activity with the Flush of CO2: I. C and N Characteristics of Soils in Corn Production

Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 82:685–695 doi:10.2136/sssaj2017.12.0433 Received 22 Dec. 2017. Accepted 15 Mar. 2018. *Corresponding author (alan.franzluebbers@ars.usda.gov). © Soil Science Society of…
...

References

SHOWING 1-10 OF 17 REFERENCES

Flush of carbon dioxide following rewetting of dried soil relates to active organic pools.

Soil quality assessment could become more standardized with the development of a simple, rapid, and reliable method for quantifying potential soil biological activity. We evaluated the flush of CO 2…

The Soil Management Assessment Framework

Erosion rates and annual soil loss tolerance (T) values in evaluations of soil management practices have served as focal points for soil quality (SQ) research and assessment programs for decades. Our…

Microbial activity in response to water-filled pore space of variably eroded southern Piedmont soils

Soil Quality: A Concept, Definition, and Framework for Evaluation (A Guest Editorial)

This essay summarizes deliberation by the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) Ad Hoc Committee on Soil Quality (S-581) and was written to spur discussion among SSSA members. Varying perceptions of…

Assessing indices for predicting potential nitrogen mineralization in soils under different management systems.

A reliable laboratory index ofN availability would be useful for making N recommendations, but no single approach has received broad acceptance across a wide range of soils. We compared several…

Bermudagrass Management in the Southern Piedmont USA. III. Particulate and Biologically Active Soil Carbon

Quantifying the effects of forage management on soil C cycling improves our understanding of greenhouse gas emissions, agronomic productivity, and changes in soil quality in pasture ecosystems. We…

Does grazing of cover crops impact biologically active soil carbon and nitrogen fractions under inversion or no tillage management?

Cover crops are a key component of conservation cropping systems. They can also be a key component of integrated crop-livestock systems by offering high-quality forage during short periods between…

Potential C and N mineralization and microbial biomass from intact and increasingly disturbed soils of varying texture

Early Response of Soil Organic Fractions to Tillage and Integrated Crop-Livestock Production

Tillage, cropping system, and cover cropping are important management variables that control the quantity, quality, and placement of organic matter inputs to soil. How soil organic matter and its…

A rapid procedure for estimating nitrogen mineralization in manured soil

Abstract A routine soil testing procedure for soil N mineralization is needed that is rapid and precise. Not accounting for N mineralization can result in the over-application of N, especially in…