ESTIMATION OF MICROBIAL BIOMASS IN SOIL - A CRITICAL-VIEW

Unrepresentative factors have been applied to calculate microbial C in a wide range of soils without consideration of soil properties, Physiological state of microbial populations, and experimental conditions. In this paper principal and technical difficulties of different methods to estimate microbial biomass in soils as well as interpretation of results are discussed. The author concludes, that a standard method to measure microbial C in a wide range of soils remains an elusive aim. Neither is there a need to convert microbial data into biomass, especially for many questions related to the role of microorganisms in soils (soil fertility, ecotoxicology, the influence of climatic factors, soil treatments and cultivation, etc.).