Parâmetros microbiológicos e enzimáticos do solo sob diferentes culturas perenes e uma mata nativa no semi-arido do Ceará

Abstract

Microorganisms are key pieces in transformation of organic matter, interacting well with all living organisms, responding quickly to changes in environment, and therefore, being considered in many assessments of environmental conditions, including soil. As hypothesis microbiota is seasonally affected, and the microorganisms are good indicators of seasonable changes as well as for the management adopted in different crop systems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the microbiological and enzymatic parameters of soil under different crops and native vegetation in a semi-arid area of Trairi, state of Ceará (Brazil). The populations of fungi, bacteria and actinomycetes, the content organic carbon, the microbial biomass, the basal respiration, the metabolic quotient, microbial quotient and the activity of enzymes dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase and urease were monitored. Composite soil samples were collected at a depth of 0-10 cm in two periods: rainy season (April 2009) and dry season (October 2009) in different crop systems: young cashew crop (area A) and old cashew crop (area B), soursop trees and an area of native forest. It turned out that the organic carbon content of soil was similar in all areas in both periods, nevertheless the microbial biomass showed significant differences between cultivated areas. The basal soil respiration showed a pattern similar to temporal variation between the areas assessed at the same period, but differed between periods for all areas, confirming the influence of season. The qCO2 did not show significant variations between crops and between the periods studied. Higher values of qMIC were found in the forested area in both periods and in the area with old cashew trees in the rainy season, while a smaller qMIC was observed in areas with other crops in both periods. Population densities of microorganisms were similar in the soil under cultivation of fruit trees and in forest area, and between periods, where areas had higher amounts of microorganisms in relation to the forest. A dehydrogenase enzyme with acid phosphatase and urease differ between the areas and periods, reinforcing the idea that season changes the microbiological and enzymatic conditions of the soil. The activities of the enzymes acid phosphatase and urease were similar, detecting increased activity in cultivated areas and lower activity of enzymes in the native vegetation area. In turn, the dehydrogenase showed an opposite trend, with higher value in the forest. For the similarity analysis of the microflora and enzyme activity was observed that the forest has diverged from other areas, being closest to the area with young cashew trees. The results obtained allowed to conclude: a) the season influenced the enzymatic activity and microbiological parameters assessed; b) the management adopted in the cropped areas affected the activity of soil microbes; c) the microbial and metabolic quotients were important to check that relations what can not be detected on individual evaluations; d) the individual evaluations did not give a good indicator of soil quality; e) populations of soil microorganisms reflected on the microbiological conditions in respect of the diversity and abundance; f) and activities of enzymes were considered good indicators of the metabolic conditions of the soil, being specific.