EN ISO 14240-1:2011

Soil quality - Determination of soil microbial biomass - Part 1: Substrate-induced respiration method (ISO 14240-1:1997)

Contains a method for the determination of the active aerobic, heterotrophic microbial biomass in aerated agricultural and mineral soils.

Bodenbeschaffenheit - Bestimmung der mikrobiellen Biomasse von Böden - Teil 1: Substrat-induziertes Respirationsverfahren (ISO 14240-1:1997)

Dieser Teil von ISO 14240 legt ein Verfahren zur Bestimmung der aktiven aeroben, heterotrophen mikrobiellen Biomasse in landwirtschaftlich genutzten Böden und in Mineralböden fest.
Dieser Teil von ISO 14240 ist nicht auf die Bestimmung der Wirkung von Chemikalien auf die Biomasse anwendbar.

Qualité du sol - Détermination de la biomasse microbienne du sol - Partie 1 : Méthode par respiration induite par le substrat (ISO 14240-1:1997)

La présente partie de l'ISO 14240 prescrit une méthode pour l'estimation de la biomasse microbienne aérobie hétérotrophe active dans les sols agricoles et minéraux aérés. La détermination des effets des produits chimiques sur la biomasse n'entre pas dans le domaine d'application de la présente partie de l'ISO 14240.

Kakovost tal - Določevanje talne mikrobne biomase - 1. del: Metoda respiracije, inducirane s substratom (ISO 14240-1:1997)

Ta del IS0 14240 določa metodo za ocenjevanje aktivne aerobne, heterotrofne mikrobne biomase v zračenih kmetijskih in mineralnih tleh. Ugotavljanje učinkov kemikalij na biomaso ne spada v obseg uporabe tega dela IS0 14240.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 21-Jun-2011
• Withdrawal Date: 30-Dec-2011
• ICS: 13.080.30 - Biological properties of soils
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 444 - Environmental characterization
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 444/WG 4 - Biological characterization
• Current Stage: 6060 - Definitive text made available (DAV) - Publishing
• Start Date: 22-Jun-2011
• Due Date: 03-Jun-2012
• Completion Date: 22-Jun-2011
• Ref Project: SIST EN ISO 14240-1:2011 - Soil quality - Determination of soil microbial biomass - Part 1: Substrate-induced respiration method (ISO 14240-1:1997)

Overview

EN ISO 14240-1:2011 is an internationally recognized standard published by CEN that defines a precise method for determining soil microbial biomass using the substrate-induced respiration (SIR) method. This standard applies primarily to aerated agricultural and mineral soils and focuses on quantifying the active aerobic, heterotrophic microbial biomass, which plays a crucial role in soil fertility and organic matter decomposition. The method improves soil quality assessment by estimating microbial biomass through the measurement of carbon dioxide (CO₂) evolution following glucose amendment.

Key Topics

• Purpose and Scope
  The standard specifies the SIR method to estimate the active microbial biomass in soil, which directly impacts nutrient cycling and soil health. It excludes assessments of chemical effects on biomass.

• Method Principle
  Glucose is added at increasing concentrations to soil samples until a maximum respiration rate is reached, indicative of maximum microbial activity. The CO₂ evolution rate is used to calculate microbial biomass.

• Test Conditions
  Tests are conducted at a controlled temperature of 22 ± 1 °C with soil moisture maintained at natural levels to mirror field conditions.

• Sample Requirements
  Soil characteristics such as particle size distribution, pH, organic matter, and moisture content are determined as preconditions for the test, following related ISO standards for soil sampling and analysis.

• Equipment and Materials
  Required reagents include finely powdered D-glucose and quartz sand or talcum powder to ensure proper mixing. Apparatus includes precision instruments for CO₂ measurement such as gas chromatography or infrared gas analyzers.

• Step-by-Step Procedure

  1. Determine optimum glucose concentration by testing various concentrations and measuring CO₂ release over several hours.
  2. Select the glucose concentration yielding maximum respiration for detailed biomass measurement with replicates.
  3. Calculate microbial biomass carbon based on the lowest CO₂ evolution rate measured.

• Calculation Formula
  Biomass carbon (mg/kg) = 40 × CO₂ evolution rate (ml/kg/hr) + 0.37, aligning respiration measurements with biomass quantities validated by fumigation-extraction methods.

• Reporting
  Test reports must include soil properties, methodology details, equipment used, and raw data with analysis outcomes for transparency and reproducibility.

Applications

• Soil Quality Assessment
  EN ISO 14240-1:2011 enables soil scientists, agronomists, and environmental professionals to quantitatively assess microbial biomass-a key indicator of soil health and fertility.

• Agricultural Management
  Understanding microbial biomass helps optimize crop production by monitoring soil biological activity and nutrient cycling, supporting sustainable agricultural practices.

• Environmental Monitoring
  The method aids in assessing the impact of land use changes, pollution, or remediation efforts by evaluating soil microbial responses.

• Research and Development
  Facilitates soil microbiology research, validation of soil amendments, and development of biological soil quality indicators.

Related Standards

• ISO 10381-6: Soil quality - Guidance on soil sampling and storage for aerobic microbial process assessments.
• ISO 10390: Soil quality - Determination of soil pH.
• ISO 11277: Soil quality - Particle size distribution method for mineral soils.
• ISO 11465: Soil quality - Gravimetric method for dry matter and water content determination.
• EN ISO 14240-2: Soil quality - Determination of soil microbial biomass through the fumigation-extraction method.

These complementary standards ensure comprehensive soil analysis aligning with best practices for soil physical and chemical properties, supporting robust microbial biomass measurement.

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Keywords: soil microbial biomass, substrate-induced respiration method, soil quality, microbial activity, soil health assessment, CO₂ evolution, soil microbiology standard, ISO 14240-1, soil fertility, agricultural soil testing, environmental soil monitoring.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-november-2011
.DNRYRVWWDO'RORþHYDQMHWDOQHPLNUREQHELRPDVHGHO0HWRGDUHVSLUDFLMH
LQGXFLUDQHVVXEVWUDWRP,62
Soil quality - Determination of soil microbial biomass - Part 1: Substrate-induced
respiration method (ISO 14240-1:1997)
Bodenbeschaffenheit - Bestimmung der mikrobiellen Biomasse von Böden - Teil 1:
Substrat-induziertes Respirationsverfahren (ISO 14240-1:1997)
Qualité du sol - Détermination de la biomasse microbienne du sol - Partie 1 : Méthode
par respiration induite par le substrat (ISO 14240-1:1997)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 14240-1:2011
ICS:
13.080.30 Biološke lastnosti tal Biological properties of soils
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD
EN ISO 14240-1
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
June 2011
ICS 13.080.30
English Version
Soil quality - Determination of soil microbial biomass - Part 1:
Substrate-induced respiration method (ISO 14240-1:1997)
Qualité du sol - Détermination de la biomasse microbienne Bodenbeschaffenheit - Bestimmung der mikrobiellen
du sol - Partie 1 : Méthode par respiration induite par le Biomasse von Böden - Teil 1: Substrat-induziertes
substrat (ISO 14240-1:1997) Respirationsverfahren (ISO 14240-1:1997)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 3 June 2011.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European
Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national
standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the same
status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2011 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 14240-1:2011: E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
Foreword .3

Foreword
The text of ISO 14240-1:1997 has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 190 “Soil quality” of the
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and has been taken over as EN ISO 14240-1:2011 by
Technical Committee CEN/TC 345 “Characterization of soils” the secretariat of which is held by NEN.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an identical
text or by endorsement, at the latest by December 2011, and conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn
at the latest by December 2011.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. CEN [and/or CENELEC] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the following
countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO 14240-1:1997 has been approved by CEN as a EN ISO 14240-1:2011 without any
modification.
INTERNATIONAL IS0
STANDARD 14240-l
First edition
1997-01-l 5
Soil quality - Determination of soil
microbial biomass -
Part II:
Substrate-induced respiration method
Qua/it6 du sol - Dktermination de la biomasse microbienne du sol -
Partie I: AMhode par respiration induite par substrat
Reference number
IS0 14240-I :I 997(E)
IS0 14240-I :1997(E)
Foreword
IS0 (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies (IS0
member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through IS0 technical
committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been established has
the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in
liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. IS0 collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical
Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
Draft International Standards adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting.
Publication as an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
International Standard IS0 14240-l was prepared by Technical Committee ISOmC 190, Soil quality, Subcommittee
SC 4, Biological methods.
IS0 14240 consists of the following parts, under the general title Soil quaMy - Determination of soil microbial
biomass:
Part I: Substrate-induced respiration method
Part 2: Fumigation-extraction method
0 IS0 1997
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced
or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and
microfilm, without permission in writing from the publisher.
International Organization for Standardization
Case postale 56 l CH-1211 Geneve 20 l Switzerland
Internet central @ iso.ch
x.400 c=ch; a=400net; p=iso; o=isocs; s=central
Printed in Switzerland
ii
0 IS0
IS0 14240-l :1997(E)
Introduction
Soil consists of both living and nonliving components which exist in a complex and heterogeneous environment. Soil
microflora is responsible for the degradation of organic matter, stability of aggregates and most nutrient cycling
which occurs in soils. The purpose of determining the microbial biomass of soils is to allow assessment of the
continued maintenance of soil fertility, the potential ability to degrade organic materials, and the effects
...