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PD CEN ISO TS 29843 — Soil Quality Determination of Soil Microbial Diversity (PLFA and PLEL Analysis Methods)
Soil Quality — Determination of Soil Microbial Diversity — Technical Specification Series
🧪 PD CEN ISO TS 29843 is a series of technical specifications (TS) published by the British Standards Institution (BSI), concerned with the determination of soil microbial diversity as part of soil quality. Prepared by CEN/TC 345 (mirroring ISO/TC 190) with UK participation through BSI committee EH/4 (Soil quality), the series provides standard methods for determining soil microbial community structure and diversity via phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) and phospholipid ether lipid (PLEL) analysis. This batch covers Part 1 (2014, identical to ISO/TS 29843-1:2010, superseding DD ISO/TS 29843-1:2010) and Part 2 (2014, identical to ISO/TS 29843-2:2011, superseding DD ISO/TS 29843-2:2011).
💡 Soil microbial diversity is an important indicator of soil health and ecological function. PLFA analysis extracts and quantifies fatty-acid signatures in cell-membrane phospholipids, enabling differentiation of microbial groups such as bacteria and fungi — a widely used method in soil ecology research and applied testing.
1. Scope and Series Composition 📌
This series applies to the determination of microbial diversity in soil and similar substrates, using phospholipid biomarkers to reflect the composition and structure of the living microbial community:
- Phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA): the constituent fatty acids of cell-membrane phospholipids in bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms; class-specific signature biomarkers.
- Phospholipid ether lipids (PLEL): ether-linked phospholipids characteristic of some archaea and other microbes, supplementing group information.
| Standard | Edition | Subject | Method Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| PD CEN ISO/TS 29843-1:2014 | 2014 (identical to ISO/TS 29843-1:2010) | PLFA and PLEL analysis methods | Phospholipid extraction, fatty-acid methylation, and quantitative analysis |
| PD CEN ISO/TS 29843-2:2014 | 2014 (identical to ISO/TS 29843-2:2011) | Simple PLFA extraction method | Simplified PLFA extraction and determination flow |
⚠️ This series belongs to the Published Document (PD) series and is provisional and of a temporary nature, not a formal British Standard. A review is initiated not later than three years after publication to decide on conversion to an international standard, extension, or withdrawal. Monitor its status when citing.
2. Part 1: PLFA and PLEL Analysis Methods 🔬
Part 1 specifies the determination of soil microbial diversity by phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis and phospholipid ether lipid (PLEL) analysis. Its main content:
- Specifies requirements for soil sampling, storage, and pre-treatment to keep biomarkers stable.
- Specifies the phospholipid extraction and separation steps to isolate and purify phospholipid compounds from the soil matrix.
- Specifies the methylation and quantitative analysis of fatty acids (typically gas chromatography, GC, or GC-MS).
- Provides methods for interpreting PLFA/PLEL signatures and characterising microbial groups.
✅ PLFA analysis directly reflects living microorganisms (phospholipids degrade rapidly after cell death), making it more representative of the current functional community than nucleic-acid-based methods — a classic approach in soil ecology.
3. Part 2: Simple PLFA Extraction Method 🔧
Part 2 specifies the simple PLFA extraction method, which simplifies the workflow while maintaining comparable results, enabling batch testing and routine application:
- Simplifies extraction and clean-up steps relative to Part 1, shortening the flow and reducing dependence on expensive equipment and reagents.
- Clarifies the scope and limitations of the simplified flow, stating when to use the simple method versus the full method.
- Maintains consistency with the full method, allowing conversion between methods and data comparison.
💡 The simple method suits large batches, routine monitoring, and field application; when finer group resolution is needed or complex matrices are encountered, return to the Part 1 full method.
4. Technical Points and Implementation Path 📊
| Stage | Part 1 Emphasis | Part 2 Emphasis |
|---|---|---|
| Sample handling | Complete phospholipid extraction and separation | Simplified extraction flow |
| Analysis method | Combined PLFA + PLEL analysis | Simple PLFA extraction method |
| Applicable scenarios | Fine research and complex matrices | Batch testing and routine monitoring |
| Output | Complete group signature profile | Comparable main-group indicators |
⚠️ Result reliability depends on stable sample pre-treatment and chromatographic conditions: establish quality-control and cross-laboratory comparison mechanisms across batches and laboratories to ensure data comparability.
5. Engineering Practice and Application Advice 🛠️
- 🔍 Sampling: collect representative soil samples per the specification, avoid contamination, and process promptly or store frozen.
- 🧪 Laboratory capability: select a laboratory with phospholipid-extraction and gas-chromatography capability, and review method-validation and quality-control records.
- 📊 Data interpretation: interpret PLFA profiles alongside soil physicochemical and land-use background information rather than in isolation.
- 📋 Reporting: state the extraction method used (full or simple), chromatographic conditions, and quality-control information in reports.
6. FAQ ❓
Q: What is PLFA analysis?
A: Phospholipid fatty acid analysis: extracting and quantifying fatty acids in cell-membrane phospholipids, using their signatures to reflect the composition and diversity of the living soil microbial community.
A: Phospholipid fatty acid analysis: extracting and quantifying fatty acids in cell-membrane phospholipids, using their signatures to reflect the composition and diversity of the living soil microbial community.
Q: How do Parts 1 and 2 differ?
A: Part 1 is the full PLFA and PLEL analysis method; Part 2 provides a simplified PLFA extraction method for batch testing.
A: Part 1 is the full PLFA and PLEL analysis method; Part 2 provides a simplified PLFA extraction method for batch testing.
Q: Is this series a formal British Standard?
A: No. It belongs to the Published Document (PD) series and is provisional and temporary in nature, subject to periodic status review.
A: No. It belongs to the Published Document (PD) series and is provisional and temporary in nature, subject to periodic status review.
Q: Why can PLFA reflect living microorganisms?
A: Phospholipids degrade rapidly after cell death, so phospholipid biomarkers mainly come from living cells and represent the current functional community.
A: Phospholipids degrade rapidly after cell death, so phospholipid biomarkers mainly come from living cells and represent the current functional community.
Q: What is the application value of this series?
A: It provides a standardised method for determining soil microbial diversity, supporting soil-health assessment, ecological-remediation evaluation, and agricultural management research.
A: It provides a standardised method for determining soil microbial diversity, supporting soil-health assessment, ecological-remediation evaluation, and agricultural management research.