Soil Enzyme Activities and Biodiversity Measurements as Integrative Microbiological Indicators

Abstract

This chapter offers two approaches for assessing soil biological properties: process level biological indexes and functional community diversity. It provides background information on the emerging biodiversity methods of phospholipid ester-linked fatty acid pattern and DNA characterization. Sampling for soil biological properties requires some special considerations because of the dynamic nature of the biological component of the soil. Air drying greatly facilitates sample handling and allows for timely analysis. Combining this with the relative simplicity of many enzyme assays makes it possible to run a large number of samples on a routine basis. A few enzymes have potential as indicators of viable soil microbial biomass or activity. Enzymes that correlate closely with microbial activity, however, may be less suited to predict long-term changes or trajectory in soil quality because they would reflect management or seasonal effects that may be transitory.