[Nematodes as bioindicator of soil health: methods and applications]

This paper summarized the advantages of using nematodes as soil health bioindicator. A review of commonly used indices and analyzing methods by means of nematodes was presented, with emphases on Maturity Index, as well as the indices and analyzing methods based on their trophic groups. Compared with other indices, Maturity Index can reflect the stressed degree of soil more sensitively, and the indices and analyzing methods based on their trophic groups can well reveal the state of soil health based on ecosystem functioning. The applications of nematodes as bioindicator in agriculture, forest, grassland, and other ecosystems were also outlined. In view of some practical limitations in the methods, prospective researches and applications were suggested, i.e., intensify the ecological studies to advance the understanding on the characteristics of soil nematodes, such as their life histories and feeding habits, consummate the indication system by integrating various nematode indices and analyzing methods, and extend the applications of soil nematodes in different ecosystems and in different regions at large scales.