A Soil Biodiagnostics Methodology and Features of Some Bioindication and Biotesting Methods (Review)

• Published in: Moscow University soil science bulletin 2023, Vol.78 (2), p.102-111
• Main Authors: Terekhova, V. A., Kulachkova, S. A., Morachevskaya, E. V., Kiryushina, A. P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural ecosystems; Biosensors; Carbon content; Decomposing organic matter; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Historical Geology; Humus; Indicators; International standards; Laboratories; Measurement methods; Methodology; Microbial activity; Microbiota; Microorganisms; Mineralization; Natural environment; Organic matter; Paleontology; Soil quality; Soils; Structure-function relationships; Toxicity
• ISSN: 0147-6874; 1934-7928
• DOI: 10.3103/S0147687423020102

The methodology for biodiagnostics of the ecological state of soils and other environmental objects involves the use of two approaches: bioindicative observations in situ and biotesting of samples, carried out according to standard methods in controlled laboratory conditions ex situ. An integrated assessment of soils based on an interdisciplinary approach in accordance with the international standard ISO19204-2017 makes it possible to diagnose of the “health” of soils based on biotic parameters in the course of observations of the natural environment and ecotoxicity indicators, which are supplemented by the results of quantitative che-mical analysis (TRIAD methodology). For soils, indicators of the state of higher plants and microbial communities, especially in agroecosystems, are of paramount importance. This article analyzes the advantages and limitations of well-known methods of phytoindication, laboratory phytotesting, soil respiration, structural and functional indicators of microbiota diversity, and bacterial biosensors. The responses of living systems to the same pollutant content largely depend on the carbon content of organic matter. The existing regulatory framework for the ecological assessment of the biological state of soil ecosystems practically does not take into account this, as well as the level of mineralization and pH of the analyzed objects. For an adequate assessment of the ecological quality of soils, it is proposed to improve the methods of measuring toxicity by more targeted recommendations for application (for example, for certain gradations of humus content, mineralization, and pH).