Microbiological and faunal soil attributes of coffee cultivation under different management systems in Brazil

Abstract

Brazil is the biggest coffee producer in the world and different plantation management systems have been applied to improve sustainability and soil quality. Little is known about the environmental effects of these different management systems, therefore, the goal of this study was to use soil biological parameters as indicators of changes. Soils from plantations in Southeastern Brazil with conventional (CC), organic (OC) and integrated management systems containing intercropping of Brachiaria decumbens (IB) or Arachis pintoi (IA) were sampled. Total organic carbon (TOC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and nitrogen (MBN), microbial activity (C-CO 2 ), metabolic quotient (qCO 2 ), the enzymes dehydrogenase, urease, acid phosphatase and arylsulphatase, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonization and number of spores and soil fauna were evaluated. The greatest difference between the management systems was seen in soil organic matter content. The largest quantity of TOC was found in the OC, and the smallest was found in IA. TOC content influenced soil biological parameters. The use of all combined attributes was necessary to distinguish the four systems. Each management presented distinct faunal structure, and the data obtained with the trap method was more reliable than the TSBF (Tropical Soils) method. A canonic correlation analysis showed that Isopoda was correlated with TOC and the most abundant order with OC. Isoptera was the most abundant faunal order in IA and correlated with MBC. Overall, OC had higher values for most of the biological measurements and higher populations of Oligochaeta and Isopoda, corroborating with the concept that the OC is a more sustainable system. Keywords

Soil Macrofauna and Edaphic Properties in Coffee Production Systems in Southern Colombia

“…The soil organic carbon presented relatively high percentages, although it was higher in traditional coffee plantations (Table 2). This is similar to what Lammel et al (2015) suggested: the high concentration of OC in coffee plantations under organic management is a consequence of the greater addition of organic materials, especially coffee husks. Nitrogen content Figure 1.…”

“…A lower density of Oligochaeta group in systems with intensive management can be explained by the use of herbicides (García-Pérez et al, 2014) and pesticides (Bartz et al, 2009). In fact, there would be expected a greater occurrence of Oligochaeta in more sustainable management systems, such as the organic management (Lammel et al, 2015). Particularly Aquino et al (2008), when evaluating soil worms in coffee systems, also found lower density of earthworms in coffee crops at full-sun with conventional management compared to shaded coffee plantations and organic management.…”

“…The use of tree species within the coffee plantation reduces the entry of sun-light, increases soil organic matter, soil nutrients and soil moisture, which allows the conservation of soil quality and soil biota (Guimarães et al, 2015). Furthermore, the organic coffee production system has emerged as an alternative to increase economic profitability, environmental conservation and human health (Lammel et al, 2015). This set of practices increases the sustainability of coffee plantations and positively influences in the reestablishment of soil invertebrate community (Guimarães et al, 2017).…”

Soil macrofauna in organic and conventional coffee plantations in Brazil

“…As a rule, OS also has higher numbers of macrofauna when compared with CS. Soil under long-term OS usually presents better properties for coffee plantations, in comparison with CS (Velmourougane 2016) and has higher values for most of the biological properties, including higher populations of Oligochaeta (Lammel et al 2015).…”

Biomasa microbiana y respiración basal del suelo bajo sistemas agroforestales con cultivos de café

“…Nuestros hallazgos están en concordancia con los reportados por Glaeser et al (2010), quienes en suelos arcillo arenosos de Brasil, bajo diferentes sistemas agroforestales orgánicos y tomando mues-tras en dos épocas climáticas diferentes, no observaron diferencias significativas por épocas climáticas de muestreo, ni por los sistemas de manejo orgánico, en cultivos de café. Varios investigadores han encontrado en suelos cafetaleros valores de Cmic menores, bajo sistemas de manejo convencional, comparados con sistemas de manejo orgánico (Azevedo Júnior et al 2017; Paolini Gómez, 2017) o con sistemas agroforestales de café (Abera & Wolde-Meskel, 2013), mientras que, en otros estudios, se ha reportado mayores valores de Cmic, en el bosque nativo, comparado con diversos sistemas de manejo con café (Glaeser et al 2010;Notaro et al 2014;Lammel et al 2015;Durango et al 2015). -1 ).…”