Optimisation of Soil Respiration Measurement Using OxiTop®-IDS as a Tool for Assessing Microbial Activity and Organic Matter Dynamics in Soil

Soil respiration is a widely used indicator of microbial activity and soil organic matter dynamics, reflecting both intrinsic biochemical processes and external disturbances. This contribution presents an optimised approach for soil respiration measurement using the OxiTop®-IDS respirometric system (DIN ISO 16072), with emphasis on improving experimental sensitivity and reproducibility. Key incubation parameters, including soil moisture, temperature, sample mass, and incubation time, were systematically optimised under controlled laboratory conditions. The refined methodology was applied to soils from the Czech Republic and to soils collected in selected regions of Ukraine partially affected by armed conflict, enabling a comparative assessment of microbial activity across contrasting environmental conditions. The method was further tested by evaluating the effects of soil amendments, including biochar and hydrogel-based preparations containing soil bacteria, on respiration rates. Automated carbon dioxide monitoring allowed continuous quantification of microbial responses to organic matter inputs. Results demonstrate that both soil origin and amendment type significantly influence soil respiration, confirming the suitability of optimised respirometric techniques for assessing soil biochemical status and microbial functioning in non-disturbed as well as disturbed and degraded soils.

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by the NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme, project Nr. G6296. https://land-security.org/.