Overview

This document describes methods for the determination of soil microbial respiration of aerobic, unsaturated soils. The methods are suitable for the determination of O₂ uptake or CO₂ release, either after addition of a substrate (substrate-induced respiration), or without substrate addition (basal respiration). The measurement of the soil respiration can be used for the following applications: - determination of the microbial activity in soil; - establishment of the effect of additives (nutrients, pollutants, soil improvers, etcetera) on the metabolic performance of microorganisms; - determination of the microbial biomass; - determination of the metabolic quotient qCO₂. This document is derived from the German standard DIN 19737. This document describes methods for the determination of microbial soil respiration in the laboratory. Microbial soil respiration results from the mineralization of organic substances. In this process, organic substances are oxidized to the end products carbon dioxide and water, with uptake of oxygen. The soil respiration is measured by the determination of O₂ consumption and/or by CO₂ release. Respiration is a measure of the overall activity of soil microorganisms. The text of ISO 16072:2002 has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 190 "Soil quality" of the International Organization of standardization (ISO) and has been adopted as EN ISO 16072:2011 by Technical Committee CEN/TC 345 "Characterization of soils", the secretariat of which is held by NEN. The text of ISO 16072:2002 has been approved by CEN as EN ISO 16072:2011 without any alterations. The Committee responsible for this standard is NA 119-01-02-04 UA "Biologische Verfahren" ("Biological Methods") at DIN.

Document: references other documents

Document: referenced in other documents

Responsible national committee

NA 119-01-02-04 UA - Biological methods  

Responsible european committee

CEN/TC 444/WG 4 - Biological characterization