[Methods for studying soil microbial diversity].

This paper gave a review on the main methods for studying soil microbial diversity. Traditionally, the analysis of soil microbial communities relied on culturing techniques, using a variety of culture media. However, only a small fraction of the soil microbial community has been cultured and isolated with this approach. Other methods such as Biolog GN analysis, phospholipids fatty acids analysis and nucleic acid-based analysis can be used to study and characterize soil microbes which currently cannot be cultured, and to get more and complete information about soil microbial community.