CARBIOSOL: Biological indicators of soil quality and organic carbon in grasslands and croplands in Wallonia, Belgium

The protection of agricultural soil quality is critical to environmental sustainabilityand requires relevant indicators. Total soil organic carbon (SOC) is of importance for soilquality but its slow dynamic and inherent variability do not allow early detection of changes.The project CARBIOSOL provides a data set from agricultural soils in Wallonia (SouthernBelgium), of total SOC, SOC fractions and biological indicators, selected for their relevance asindicators of soil quality. Two land uses (sampled in 2013), five agricultural regions (2015), seasonalvariability in croplands (2016) and four management types (2017) were studied. Soilorganic carbon content (total, stable fine fraction <20 lm, labile coarse fraction >20 lm), coldand hot water extractable carbon and nitrogen contents, total nitrogen, pHKCl, pHH2O, potentialrespiration, microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen, net nitrogen mineralization, metabolicpotential of soil bacteria, earthworm density and biomass, and two ecophysiological quotients(metabolic and microbial quotient) were measured for a total of 415 samples. The present dataset provides an important contribution for establishing a reference system of soil quality inWallonia and eventually for large-scale studies through its integration into a global database.Moreover, the present data set could be used to support the interpretation of measurements offractions of SOC and biological indicators by soil analyses laboratories, which will be usefulfor farmers and decision makers to evaluate the effect of different management practices. Informationcontained in this publication or product may be reproduced, in part or in whole, andby any means for personal or public non-commercial uses, without charge or further permission,unless otherwise specified. Users are required to exercise due diligence in ensuring theaccuracy of the material reproduced, indicate the complete title of the material produced andrefer to this publication (including author names), indicate that the reproduction is a copy/usesofficial work financed by the SPW-DGO3. Commercial reproduction and distribution is prohibited,except with written permission from SPW-DGO3 and publication authors.