Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1016/j.soilbio.2006.06.001
Title (Primary) Microbiological degradation index of soils in a semiarid climate
Author Bastida, F.; Moreno, J.L.; Hernández, T.; García, C.
Source Titel Soil Biology & Biochemistry
Year 2006
Department ISOBIO
Volume 38
Issue 12
Page From 3463
Page To 3473
Language englisch
Keywords Soil degradation index; Soil respiration; Water-soluble C; Water-soluble carbohydrates; Enzymatic activities; Semiarid soils
Abstract

Soil degradation and desertification affect many areas of the planet. One such area is the Mediterranean region of SE Spain, where the climatological and lithological conditions, together with the relief of the landscape and anthropological activity, including agricultural abandonment, are responsible for increasing desertification. It is therefore considered to be of extreme importance to be able to measure soil degradation quantitatively. The aim of this study was to make a microbiological and biochemical characterisation of different soil catenas in SE Spain, including in a wide range of plant cover densities in an attempt to assess the suitability of the parameters measured to reflect the state of soil degradation and the possibility of using the parameters to elaborate a microbiological degradation index (MDI) valid for use in semiarid climates. For this, several indices related with the organic matter content (total organic carbon, TOC, water-soluble carbon, WSC, and water-soluble carbohydrates, WSCh), with the size of microbial populations (microbial biomass carbon, MBC) and related activity (respiration and enzymatic activities) were determined in the soils of three different catenas in different seasons of the year. The values of these parameters were seen to be closely related with the degree of vegetal cover, forest soils with a high cover value showing the highest indices. There was a highly significant positive correlation (p<0.01) between the TOC and WSC content, and other parameters such as MBC, ATP, dehydrogenase activity and the activity of different hydrolases (urease, protease, phosphatase and β-glucosidase). The results show that the parameters analysed are a good reflection of a soil's microbiological quality since the soils with the worst characteristics (saline and with low organic matter and nutrient content) showed the lowest values. The study provides a soil degradation index based on its microbiological properties: MDI. This index is a function of the following five parameters, which showed the greatest weight in the factorial analysis made with all the parameters analysed: dehydrogenase activity, WSCh, urease activity, WSC and respiration.

Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=2478
Bastida, F., Moreno, J.L., Hernández, T., García, C. (2006):
Microbiological degradation index of soils in a semiarid climate
Soil Biol. Biochem. 38 (12), 3463 - 3473 10.1016/j.soilbio.2006.06.001