http://orgprints.org/9775/ Assessment of tillage systems in organic farming: influence of soil structure on microbial biomass. First results Soil tillage modifies environmental conditions of soil microorganisms and their ability to release nitrogen. We compare the influence of reduced tillage (RT) and mouldboard ploughing (MP) on the soil microbial functioning in organic farming. In order to connect soil structure generated by these tillage systems on the soil microbial biomass we adopt a particular sampling scheme based on the morphological characterisation of the soil structure by the description of the soil profile. This method reveals the influence of soil structure on soil microbial biomass and allows a more precise assessment of the impact of tillage managements on the soil microbial functioning. Vian, Jean François Peigné, Joséphine Chaussod, Rémi Roger-Estrade, Jean 5soil int_conf_2007qlif_3_crops Assessment of tillage systems in organic farming: influence of soil structure on microbial biomass. First results 2007-03-09 Vian, Jean François; Peigné, Joséphine; Chaussod, Rémi and Roger-Estrade, Jean (2007) Assessment of tillage systems in organic farming: influence of soil structure on microbial biomass. First results. 3rd QLIF Congress: Improving Sustainability in Organic and Low Input Food Production Systems, University of Hohenheim, Germany, March 20-23, 2007. application/pdf