World Soil Day

  Ahead of World Soil Day , marked on December 5th , the  FAO launched its first ever report on " The State of Knowledge of Soil Biodiversity ". The report examines the potential of soil organisms in ensuring sustainable agri-food systems and mitigating climate change. "Soil biodiversity and sustainable soil management is a prerequisite for the achievement of many of the Sustainable Development Goals " , said FAO Deputy Director-General Maria Helena Semedo. "Therefore, data and information on soil biodiversity, from the national to the global level, are necessary in order to efficiently plan management strategies on a subject that is still poorly known", she added. Biodiversity below According to the report, despite the fact biodiversity loss is at the forefront of global concerns, biodiversity below ground is not being given the prominence it deserves and needs to be fully considered when planning how best to boost sustainable development. "We ho...

Soil biological activity.  

  Soil biological diversity reflects the variability among living organisms including a myriad of organisms not visible to the naked eye, such as microorganisms (e.g., bacteria, fungi, protozoa) and meso-fauna (e.g., nematodes, acari and springtails), as well as the more familiar macro-fauna (e.g. earthworms, ants and termites). The most recommended methods for soil biodiversity include the counting and identification of macro and mesoorganisms by a trained person, following extractions in the laboratory (e.g., Berlese funnel, Baermann funnel or pitfall traps in the field). A regular genomic analysis biodiversity to be assessed more accurately at the microbial level. It is recommended to associate at least one of these methods with the respiration rate mentioned in the recommended indicators in order to better interpret the values obtained.