Monitoring soil quality of arable land: microbiological indicators

摘要

Current knowledge is reviewed and existing strategies for the development and implementation of monitoring systems for soil quality of arable land, based on soil-quality indicators, are described. Viewpoints on the soil-quality concept, suggested frameworks for its assessment, and possible methods for the selection and evaluation of quality indicators, are discussed. These sections are in general terms, without emphasis on chemical, physical or biological soil properties. The potential value of including microbiological indicators in a monitoring system is discussed. Several possible microbiological indicators are suggested, and their advantages and disadvantages are discussed. Strategies for the selection and sampling of monitoring sites are reviewed, and the treatment of samples before analyses is also discussed. In conclusion, a framework for using microbiological indicators in a Swedish monitoring system is suggested.