Article (Scientific journals)
Integrating biological indicators in a Soil Monitoring Network (SMN) to improve soil quality diagnosis – a study case in Southern Belgium (Wallonia)
Krüger, Inken; Chartin, Caroline; van Wesemael, Bas et al.
2017In Biotechnologie, Agronomie, Société et Environnement, 21 (S1)
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Keywords :
Biological indicators; networks; monitoring; soil biology; Belgium
Abstract :
[en] Soil organisms and their activities are essential for soil ecosystem functioning and they can thus be used as pertinent indicators of soil quality. Recent efforts have been undertaken to include biological indicators of soil quality into regional/national monitoring networks. Objectives. The aim of this study was to provide a first dataset of six biological indicators and two eco-physiological quotients for two landscape units in Wallonia. These spatial units are characterized by homogeneous climate conditions, soil type, land-use and management (here, grasslands in the Ardennes, and croplands in the Loam Region). Method. Respiration potential, microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen, net nitrogen mineralization, metabolic potential of soil bacteria and earthworm abundance were measured at a total of 60 sites in two different landscape units (LSU). Variability within each LSU was studied. Data was synthesized through calculation of a comprehensive score and presentation as radar plots. Results. All selected biological indicators were significantly higher under grassland than under cropland soils, highlighting the biological indicators’ power of discrimination between main land use types. Variability within LSU depended on the biological indicator and was generally higher in grassland than in cropland soils. Each site could unambiguously be assigned to its landscape unit based on its calculated comprehensive score. Radar plots allowed an assessment of the distribution of values within a landscape unit at a glance. Conclusions. The pilot-study defined the first baseline values for agricultural soils in Wallonia and laid the foundation for a monitoring network of biological soil quality.
Disciplines :
Agriculture & agronomy
Environmental sciences & ecology
Author, co-author :
Krüger, Inken ;  Université de Liège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Ecologie végétale et microbienne
Chartin, Caroline
van Wesemael, Bas
Malchair, Sandrine ;  Université de Liège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Ecologie végétale et microbienne
Carnol, Monique  ;  Université de Liège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Ecologie végétale et microbienne
Language :
English
Title :
Integrating biological indicators in a Soil Monitoring Network (SMN) to improve soil quality diagnosis – a study case in Southern Belgium (Wallonia)
L’intégration d’indicateurs biologiques dans un réseau de surveillance des sols afin d’améliorer le diagnostic de la qualité du sol – une étude de cas dans le sud de la Belgique (Wallonie)
Publication date :
2017
Journal title :
Biotechnologie, Agronomie, Société et Environnement
ISSN :
1370-6233
eISSN :
1780-4507
Publisher :
Presses Agronomiques de Gembloux, Gembloux, Belgium
Special issue title :
numéro spécial 1 : Atelier Sol 2015
Volume :
21
Issue :
S1
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Funders :
SPW - Service Public de Wallonie [BE]
Available on ORBi :
since 13 March 2017

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