Soil microbiological activity under different vegetation coverages in the Cerrado biome of Tocantins state

Abstract

The microbial activity is very sensitive to changes in soil cover, making it an important indicator of soil quality. The study aimed to assess changes in soil microbiological activities under different vegetation coverings in the Cerrado biome of Tocantins state. The work was developed in areas of Eucalyptus sp., Pasture, agriculture and Cerrado sensu stricto in the experimental farm of the Federal University of Tocantins. The soil samples were collected in trenches of 70 x 70 cm at depths 0-10 and 10-20 cm, with six replications. The variables evaluated were: concentration and stock in the microbial biomass carbon, basal soil respiration, metabolic quotient and microbial quotient. The statistical analysis was performed using the normality test, analysis of variance and comparison of means by the Tukey test at 5% significance. The area with Eucalyptus sp. at 11 years of age, he had a stable soil microbiological activity, showing stocks in microbial biomass carbon 57.32% higher than that native forest vegetation, 84.29% that pasture and 290.91% that agriculture. The soil microbiological activities are affected by the variation of the soil vegetation cover, being efficient as an indicator of soil quality.