Methods for assessing soil microbial populations, activity and biomass
Microbial communities, activity and biomass

https://doi.org/10.1016/0167-8809(91)90090-KGet rights and content

Abstract

We present an overview of numerous methods for identification and enumeration of diverse bacterial and fungal species. These include plating, isolation on plant debris and a variety of observational methods. To integrate our efforts with the overall theme of soil ecology, we examine a range of techniques for determining microbial biomass: microscopic, chemical and physiological (e.g. substrate-induced respiration). We then consider several techniques for the study of microbial activity in litter and soil, and how they should be viewed in a whole-systems context. We suggest that it is within a whole-system context, including biosphere and global change, that studies in soil ecology will prove most rewarding as we move into the last decade of the twentieth century.

References (175)

  • C.G.C. Chesters

    A method of isolating soil fungi

    Trans. Br. Mycol. Soc.

    (1940)
  • J.C. Frankland

    Estimation of live fungal biomass

    Soil Biol. Biochem.

    (1975)
  • J.C. Frankland et al.

    A comparison of two methods for the estimation of mycelial biomass in leaf litter

    Soil Biol. Biochem.

    (1978)
  • J.L. Harley et al.

    A method for studying active mycelia on living roots and other surfaces in the soil

    Trans. Br. Mycol. Soc.

    (1955)
  • R.J. Haynes et al.

    Comparison of soil chemical properties, enzyme activities, levels of biomass N and aggregate stability in the soil profile under conventional and notillage in Canterbury, New Zealand

    Soil Tillage Res.

    (1989)
  • E.R. Ingham et al.

    Bacterial, fungal and protozoan responses to chloroform fumigation in stored soil

    Soil Biol. Biochem.

    (1987)
  • E.R. Ingham et al.

    Soil fungi: relationships between hyphal activity and staining with fluorescein diacetate

    Soil Biol. Biochem.

    (1984)
  • E.R. Ingham et al.

    Soil fungi: measurement of hyphal length

    Soil Biol. Biochem.

    (1984)
  • D.S. Jenkinson et al.

    The effects of biocidal treatments on metabolism in soil. V. A method for measuring soil biomass

    Soil Biol. Biochem.

    (1976)
  • D.S. Jenkinson et al.

    Adenosine-triphosphate and microbial biomass in soil

    Soil Biol. Biochem.

    (1979)
  • J.J.H. Kirby

    A comparison of serial washing and surface sterilization

    Trans. Br. Mycol. Soc.

    (1987)
  • M.J. Kooistra

    A micromorphological approach to the interactions between soil structure and soil biota

    Agric. Ecosystems. Environ.

    (1991)
  • B. Lundgren et al.

    Bacterial numbers in a pine forest soil in relation to environmental factors

    Soil Biol. Biochem.

    (1983)
  • J.M. Lynch et al.

    Cultivation and the soil biomass

    Soil Biol. Biochem.

    (1980)
  • R.M. Macdonald

    Cytochemical demonstration of catabolism in soil microorganisms

    Soil Biol. Biochem.

    (1980)
  • C.A. Monz et al.

    Soil microbial biomass C and N estimates using 2450 MHz microwave irradiation or chloroform fumigation followed by direct extraction

    Agric. Ecosystems Environ.

    (1991)
  • K. Newell

    Interactions between two decomposer basidiomycetes and a collembolan under Sitka spruce: distribution, abundance and selective grazing

    Soil Biol. Biochem.

    (1984)
  • D.J. Nicholas et al.

    A comparison of methods for assessing the amount of fungal mycelium in soil samples

    Pedobiologia

    (1967)
  • J.M. Oades et al.

    Adenosine-triphosphate content of the soil microbial biomass

    Soil Biol. Biochem.

    (1979)
  • M. Alexander

    Most probable number method for microbial populations

  • M. Amato et al.

    Assay for microbial biomass based on ninhydrin-reactive nitrogen in extracts of fumigated soils

    Soil Biol. Biochem.

    (1988)
  • J.P.E. Anderson

    Soil respiration

  • J.P.E. Anderson et al.

    Measurement of bacterial and fungal contributions to respiration of selected agricultural and forest soils

    Can. J. Microbiol.

    (1975)
  • T.-H. Anderson et al.

    Determination of ecophysiological maintenance carbon requirements of soil microorganisms in a dormant state

    Biol. Fert. Soils

    (1985)
  • T.-H. Anderson et al.

    Carbon assimilation and microbial activity in soil

    Z. Pflanzenernaehr. Bodenkd.

    (1986)
  • L.A. Babiuk et al.

    The use of fluorescein isothiocyanate in the determination of the bacterial biomass of grassland soils

    Can. J. Microbiol.

    (1970)
  • E.H. Battley

    Energetics of Microbial Growth

    (1987)
  • Th. Beck

    Mikrobiologische und biochemische Charakterisierung landwirtschaftlich genutzter Böden. I. Die ermittlung einer Bodenmikrobiologischen Kennzahl

    Z. Pflanzenernaehr. Bodenkd.

    (1984)
  • R.F.J. Bewley et al.

    Monitoring the impact of acid deposition on the soil microbiota, using glucose and vanillin decomposition

    Water, Air Soil Pollut.

    (1986)
  • H.F. Birch et al.

    Humus decomposition in East African soils

    Nature (London)

    (1956)
  • J. Bissett et al.

    An automatic, multi-chamber soil washing apparatus for removing fungal spores from soil

    Can. J. Microbiol.

    (1972)
  • W.B. Brierley et al.

    The quantitative study of soil fungi

  • A. Burges

    The soil microflora - its nature and biology

  • G.A. Buyanovsky et al.

    Soil respiration in a winter wheat ecosystem

    Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.

    (1986)
  • L.E. Casida

    On the isolation and growth of individual microbial cells from soil

    Can. J. Microbiol.

    (1962)
  • L.E. Casida

    Methods for the isolation and estimation of activity of soil bacteria

  • L.E. Casida et al.

    Soil dehydrogenase activity

    Soil Sci.

    (1964)
  • F.E. Clark et al.

    Measurement of microbial thermogenesis in soil

  • Cited by (0)

    View full text