Soil Quality and Organic Matter Pools in a Temperate Climate (Northern Italy) under Different Land Uses

Temperate soils are threatened by degradation and soil organic matter (SOM) loss due to a combination of geomorphology, types, anthropic pressure. In 54 sites in Northern Italy, characterized different land uses, climates, geological substrates, soils, we assessed (i) the quality, (ii) SOM accumulation/degradation patterns, (iii) whether use related management practices sustainable based on changes quality. Soil samples from 0–15 15–30 cm deep layers were collected analyzed for parameters recommended FAO (bulk density, pH, microbial C, total N, respiration rate) chemical pools. Parameters efficient C also calculated. The findings showed that agricultural lands where material was added had good quality used efficiently. Reclaimed peaty degraded because conditions too stressful biomass as supported high metabolic quotient low values mineralization quotient, biofertility index. Conservative carried out chestnuts found have decreased risk. An investigation can be evaluate activity dynamics.