BS EN ISO 16072-2011 PDF

Full title and description

STB BS EN ISO 16072-2011 — Soil quality — Laboratory methods for determination of microbial soil respiration. This document specifies laboratory procedures to measure microbial respiration in aerobic, unsaturated soils by determining O2 uptake or CO2 release, either after substrate addition (substrate-induced respiration) or without substrate addition (basal respiration).

Abstract

This standard provides harmonised laboratory methods to assess soil microbial activity via respiration measurements. It describes sample handling and incubation approaches for measuring oxygen consumption or carbon dioxide evolution, and discusses the use of these measurements to estimate microbial activity, microbial biomass and the metabolic quotient (qCO2). The methods are intended for research, environmental monitoring and evaluation of treatments or contaminants that affect soil microbial metabolism.

General information

• Status: Published / adopted as a European (EN) and national adoption (BS EN ISO 16072:2011) — active/current as an EN adoption.
• Publication date: 2011 (EN adoption published in mid‑2011; common publication date cited: 31 August 2011 for BS EN ISO 16072:2011).
• Publisher: British Standards Institution (BSI) as BS EN ISO 16072:2011 — original International Standard published by ISO (ISO 16072:2002).
• ICS / categories: 13.080.30 — Biological properties of soils (soil quality).
• Edition / version: BS EN ISO 16072:2011 (adoption of ISO 16072:2002).
• Number of pages: Typically reported as about 19–32 pages depending on national publication format; common EN/British publication lists 28 pages.

Scope

This International/EN standard describes laboratory methods for determining microbial respiration of aerobic, unsaturated soils. It covers measurement of O2 uptake or CO2 release under basal conditions (no added substrate) and after addition of a readily available substrate (substrate‑induced respiration). Intended applications include: determining microbial activity, assessing effects of additives or pollutants on microbial metabolism, estimating microbial biomass, and calculating the metabolic quotient qCO2. The standard is applicable to soils tested in the laboratory rather than in situ field respiration measurements.

Key topics and requirements

• Test principles: measurement of O2 consumption or CO2 evolution to characterise microbial respiration (basal and substrate‑induced methods).
• Sample handling and pre‑treatment guidance to preserve representative microbial activity prior to incubation.
• Incubation conditions: control of temperature, moisture status (unsaturated soils), incubation time and atmosphere for repeatable results.
• Instrumentation and measurement techniques: recommendations for gas‑analysis methods (respirometers, gas chromatography or infrared CO2 detectors) and calibration/blank procedures.
• Data calculation and expression: conversion of measured gas fluxes to respiration rates, normalization per soil mass or organic carbon, and calculation of metabolic quotient (qCO2).
• Quality control and reporting: requirements for replicates, controls, substrate controls, and reporting of methods, units and uncertainties.

Typical use and users

Used by environmental and soil testing laboratories, academic and governmental researchers, environmental consultants, agronomists and regulators. Typical applications include soil quality monitoring, ecotoxicological testing, assessment of land management or remediation effects on microbial activity, and research into soil biological functioning.

Related standards

This standard is part of the soil quality family of ISO/CEN standards. Commonly referenced related standards include ISO 16072:2002 (original ISO text), ISO 14240 (determination of soil microbial biomass — substrate‑induced respiration and fumigation‑extraction methods), ISO 17155 (determination of abundance and activity using respiration curves) and soil sampling standards (ISO 10381 series and later ISO 18400 series for sampling guidance). These related documents cover complementary test methods (biomass estimation, respiration curve analysis) and sampling procedures used together with respiration tests.

Keywords

soil quality; microbial respiration; basal respiration; substrate‑induced respiration (SIR); O2 uptake; CO2 evolution; microbial biomass; metabolic quotient; qCO2; soil laboratory methods; respirometry.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: BS EN ISO 16072:2011 is the European/British adoption of ISO 16072, providing laboratory methods for determination of microbial soil respiration (measuring O2 uptake or CO2 release in aerobic, unsaturated soils).

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers laboratory procedures for basal and substrate‑induced respiration tests, including principles of measurement, recommended incubation conditions, data calculation (including qCO2) and reporting to assess microbial activity, biomass estimates and effects of additives or contaminants.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Soil and environmental testing laboratories, university researchers, environmental consultants, agronomists and regulatory bodies that need standardised, comparable methods to quantify soil microbial activity and to evaluate impacts on soil biological quality.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 16072 was published as an ISO International Standard in 2002 and was adopted as EN ISO (and national adoptions) in 2011; national copies published around 2011 are commonly cited as current EN/BS adoptions. Users should check their national standards body for the latest confirmation or any subsequent revisions or withdrawals.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it belongs to the broader ISO/CEN soil quality test family (ICS 13.080.30) and is frequently used alongside standards such as ISO 14240 (microbial biomass methods), ISO 17155 (respiration curves) and sampling standards (ISO 10381 / ISO 18400 series).

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Soil quality, microbial respiration, basal respiration, substrate‑induced respiration, O2 uptake, CO2 release, microbial biomass, qCO2, respirometry.