EN ISO 16072 Soil Quality - Laboratory Methods for Determination of Microbial Soil Respiration

EUROLAB, with its state-of-the-art accredited laboratories and expert team, offers precise and rapid testing services within the scope of EN ISO 16072 testing. EN ISO 16702 describes methods for determining soil microbial respiration of aerobic, unsaturated soils. The methods are suitable for determining O2 uptake or CO2 release after addition of a substrate (substrate-induced respiration) or without substrate addition (basal respiration).

EN ISO 16702 can be applied to the measurement of soil respiration for the following purposes:

• Determines microbial activity in the soil;
• Determines the impact of additives (nutrients, pollutants, soil conditioners, etc.) on the metabolic performance of the soil;
• Determines microbial biomass;
• The metabolic compartment determines qCO2.

Microbial soil respiration results from the mineralization of organic matter. In this process, organic substances are oxidized to carbon dioxide and water, along with the uptake of O2 by aerobic microorganisms. Soil respiration is measured by determining O2 consumption or CO2 release. Respiration is a measure of the overall activity of soil microorganisms.

Each measurement method has its own advantages and disadvantages. Caution is required as the results obtained with O2 uptake and CO2 release are not completely compatible. It is the responsibility of the researcher to decide which of these methods to use.

Systems for measuring CO2 do not distinguish between CO2 released from microbial activities and CO2 resulting from abiotic processes. For alkaline soils and soils high in organic matter that can release significant amounts of abiotically released CO2, methods using O2 uptake are recommended.

EUROLAB assists manufacturers with EN ISO 16072 test compliance. Our test experts, with their professional working mission and principles, provide you, our manufacturers and suppliers, the best service and controlled testing process in our laboratories. Thanks to these services, businesses receive more effective, high-performance and quality testing services and provide safe, fast and uninterrupted service to their customers.