INVESTIGATION OF THE TEA BAG INDEX (TBI) METHOD FOR ASSESSING THE HEALTH STATUS OF SOILS IN DEBRECEN

Abstract

Soil properties, such as soil texture, pH, organic carbon and nutrient content, are important regulators of microbial processes and litter decomposition, with consequences for nutrient turnover and carbon sequestration. Soils with high sand content generally favour initial decomposition rates, whereas soils with high clay content or saturated conditions slow down decomposition due to physical shielding effects and lack of oxygen. Standardised methods such as the Tea Bag Index show that soil type is an important factor in regulating organic matter decomposition under comparable conditions.