Tool 6.5 Other biological activity tests
Many labs offer tests to measure soil bacterial and fungal numbers and their activity. However, there is little evidence that the numbers mean anything from site to site or year to year and interpretation of these numbers and ratios is completely subjective.
Two tests available in soil labs, which allow comparison of trial treatments, are Potentially Non Mineralisable Nitrogen and Soil microbes CO2 respiration test which both give an indication of biological activity.
Potentially Non Mineralisable Nitrogen test measures the release of soil nitrogen produced in soil kept under anaerobic conditions indicating the capacity of a soil to turnover soil organic matter. Soil microbes CO2 respiration test measures their rate of soil respiration (CO2 outflow) as they decompose organic matter.
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