Articles | Volume 10, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-10-407-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-10-407-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Original research article
| 
12 Jun 2024
Original research article |
| 12 Jun 2024
| 12 Jun 2024
Evaluating the Tea Bag Index approach for different management practices in agroecosystems using long-term field experiments in Austria and Sweden
Maria Regina Gmach
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), P.O. Box 7044, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
Martin Anders Bolinder
Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), P.O. Box 7044, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
Lorenzo Menichetti
Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), P.O. Box 7044, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
Thomas Kätterer
Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), P.O. Box 7044, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
Heide Spiegel
Department for Soil Health and Plant Nutrition, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), Spargelfeldstraße 191, 1220 Vienna, Austria
Olle Åkesson
Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), P.O. Box 7044, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
Lantmännen Lantbruk, Mariestadsvägen 104, 54139 Skövde, Sweden
Jürgen Kurt Friedel
Institute of Organic Farming (IFÖL), Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Gregor-Mendel-Straße 33, 1180 Vienna, Austria
deceased
Andreas Surböck
Institute of Organic Farming (IFÖL), Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Gregor-Mendel-Straße 33, 1180 Vienna, Austria
Agnes Schweinzer
EASY-CERT services GmbH, Königsbrunner Straße 8, 2202 Enzersfeld, Austria
Taru Sandén
Department for Soil Health and Plant Nutrition, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), Spargelfeldstraße 191, 1220 Vienna, Austria
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Cited
13 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Unraveling the edaphic factors driving organic material decay: Insights from long-term manure application studies Y. Fu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2025.109711
- Disentangling organic matter inputs and outputs during litter decomposition using C4-plant teabags C. Guidi et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2026.110151
- Tea Bag Index Revisited: Risks of Misleading Decomposition Patterns T. Mori https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.70010
- Conventional and biodegradable agricultural microplastics: effects on soil properties and microbial functions across a European pedoclimatic gradient K. Šmídová et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127212
- Does extending the incubation period really improve the accuracy of the Tea Bag Index as a measure of soil health? T. Mori https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2024.105837
- Effects of Green Roof Features, Management Practices, and Age on Decomposition Rates, Carbon Storage, and Substrate Composition R. Swanson & M. McKinney https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci9050157
- Microbiological Indicators for Assessing the Effects of Agricultural Practices on Soil Health: A Review M. Semenov et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15020335
- Plant functional groups shape microbial colonization and decomposition dynamics in grassland soils R. Jayaramaiah et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2025.110067
- Динамика биологических функций почвы в севообороте под влиянием технологий различной интенсивности: комплексная оценка методами биотестирования . Ладан https://doi.org/10.25680/S19948603.2025.147.21
- In situ degradation of biodegradable bio-based plastics in urban soil: Pilot study for PLA, PHB, PHBH, and Bio-PBS in central Tokyo, Japan A. Kobayashi et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181632
- Ten grassland and arable soils show variable microbial responses to realistic pesticide mixtures L. Medici et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2026.107035
- Validation of the Tea Bag Index (TBI) using soils in peri-urban forest and urban green spaces of a subtropical city F. Ma et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07651-9
- Tillage Intensity and Cover Cropping Effects on Litter Decomposition and Soil Nitrogen Mineralization During Autumn and Winter C. Rosinger et al. https://doi.org/10.1111/sum.70264
13 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Unraveling the edaphic factors driving organic material decay: Insights from long-term manure application studies Y. Fu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2025.109711
- Disentangling organic matter inputs and outputs during litter decomposition using C4-plant teabags C. Guidi et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2026.110151
- Tea Bag Index Revisited: Risks of Misleading Decomposition Patterns T. Mori https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.70010
- Conventional and biodegradable agricultural microplastics: effects on soil properties and microbial functions across a European pedoclimatic gradient K. Šmídová et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.127212
- Does extending the incubation period really improve the accuracy of the Tea Bag Index as a measure of soil health? T. Mori https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2024.105837
- Effects of Green Roof Features, Management Practices, and Age on Decomposition Rates, Carbon Storage, and Substrate Composition R. Swanson & M. McKinney https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci9050157
- Microbiological Indicators for Assessing the Effects of Agricultural Practices on Soil Health: A Review M. Semenov et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15020335
- Plant functional groups shape microbial colonization and decomposition dynamics in grassland soils R. Jayaramaiah et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2025.110067
- Динамика биологических функций почвы в севообороте под влиянием технологий различной интенсивности: комплексная оценка методами биотестирования . Ладан https://doi.org/10.25680/S19948603.2025.147.21
- In situ degradation of biodegradable bio-based plastics in urban soil: Pilot study for PLA, PHB, PHBH, and Bio-PBS in central Tokyo, Japan A. Kobayashi et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181632
- Ten grassland and arable soils show variable microbial responses to realistic pesticide mixtures L. Medici et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2026.107035
- Validation of the Tea Bag Index (TBI) using soils in peri-urban forest and urban green spaces of a subtropical city F. Ma et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07651-9
- Tillage Intensity and Cover Cropping Effects on Litter Decomposition and Soil Nitrogen Mineralization During Autumn and Winter C. Rosinger et al. https://doi.org/10.1111/sum.70264
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 21 Jul 2026
Short summary
We evaluated the effect of soil management practices on decomposition at 29 sites (13 in Sweden and 16 in Austria) using long-term field experiments with the Tea Bag Index (TBI) approach. We found that the decomposition rate (k) and stabilization factor (S) were mainly governed by climatic conditions. In general, organic and mineral fertilization increased k and S, and reduced tillage increased S. Edaphic factors also affected k and S.
We evaluated the effect of soil management practices on decomposition at 29 sites (13 in Sweden...
