Meta-analysis of soil eco-indicators to assess soil functions and ecosystem services in long-term field experiments in Bad Lauchstädt, Central Germany

The assessment of soil functions and ecosystem services requires reliable eco-physiological indicators that capture the complexity of soil processes across scales. Long-term field experiment provides unique insights into soil carbon dynamic and functions under varying agricultural management practices and environmental conditions. In this study, we plan to conduct a meta-analysis of self-obtained field data from several long-term field experiments in Bad Lauchstädt, central Germany, to evaluate the applicability of both basic and novel eco-indicators in assessing soil health and carbon sequestration.
Our analysis includes traditional indicators such as metabolic quintet (qCO2) and microbial biomass carbon to soil organic carbon ratio (MBC:SOC), alongside some potential novel indicators like active microbial fractions, particulate organic matter to soil organic matter ratio (POM/SOM), soil pore characteristics, and soil fauna. These long-term field experiments represent varying land use practices, climatic conditions, and management strategies, offering a robust dataset for testing indicator sensitivity and effectiveness.
The primary objective of this research is to identify which indicators are most responsive to land use, climate variability, and seasonality at the field scale, and to explore their potential for evaluating soil functions and ecosystem services. While our data analysis is ongoing, we hypothesize that integrating basic and novel indicators will provide a comprehensive framework for soil assessment, enabling better predictions of ecosystem resilience and carbon storage potential. We look forward to presenting our findings and discussing the implications of eco-indicator-based assessments for sustainable soil management and climate change mitigation at the conference.