Soil Microbial Activity and Biomass in Semiarid Agroforestry Systems Integrating Forage Cactus and Tree Legumes

Abstract

Vegetation cover affects soil organic matter and activity of soil microorganisms. We investigated the intercropping effect of forage cactus with tree legumes on soil microbial biomass and organic matter in the semi-arid tropic, state of Pernambuco, Brazil. We assessed the following cropping systems: (i) Gliricidia sepium intercropped with cactus cv. IPA-Sertânia; (ii) Leucaena leucocephala intercropped with cactus cv. IPA-Sertânia; and (iii) Cactus cv. IPA-Sertânia in monoculture. Samples were collected during the dry and rainy seasons in the 0- to 0.10- and 0.10- to 0.20-m soil layers at 0, 1.5, 3.0, and 4.5 m in a perpendicular gradient from tree legume rows. The following responses were determined: δ13C and δ15N, C and N, microbial activity and biomass, and metabolic, microbial, and mineralization quotient. δ13C and δ15N varied with the distance from the trees. In the dry season and beginning of the rainy season, the cropping systems showed similar values for C, N, microbial activity, carbon, and nitrogen in the microbial biomass. The presence of tree legumes at the end of the rainy season favored soil microbiota, which showed a reduced loss of C-CO2, with no indication of metabolic stress and greater microbial biomass and microbial quotient in relation to forage cactus in monoculture.

Intercropping forage cactus genotypes with wood species in a semi‐arid environment

“…(Jardim, da Silva, et al., 2021; Jardim, de Souza, et al., 2021; Lima et al., 2018) and P. glaucum (de Sá Souz et al., 2022). Intercropping with tree legumes ( L. leucocephala and G. sepium ) (Camelo et al., 2021; de Oliveira et al., 2020) has also been the object of research. These studies recorded improvements in water use efficiency and soil microbiota and increased production and diversity of food for herds.…”

“…(de Sá Souz et al., 2022), Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Kunth (Camelo et al., 2021; de Oliveira et al., 2020), and Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit (Camelo et al., 2021) in the Brazilian semi‐arid region promoted the efficient use of water and soil microbiota and increased the production and diversity of food for the herds.…”

“…Kunth (Camelo et al., 2021; de Oliveira et al., 2020), and Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit (Camelo et al., 2021) in the Brazilian semi‐arid region promoted the efficient use of water and soil microbiota and increased the production and diversity of food for the herds. However, information on the agronomic performance of cactus forage intercropped with timber species is extremely limited in the literature.…”

Vegetation Structure and Composition of Coffee Agroforestry in Kalibaru District

“…), sengon (Albiizia chinensis (Osbeck) Merr) and jabon (Neolamarckia cadamba (Roxb) Miq) in coffee agroforestry ecosystem also play important role. Mahoni (S. mahagoni (L.) Jacq) is a woody plant species that is very tolerant of various environmental conditions (Budianto et al, 2014). Mahoni (S. mahagoni (L.) Jacq) is often encountered in coffee agroforestry due to its important role in reducing erosion (Mashudi & Susanto, 2016).…”

Avaliação estatística do crescimento populacional de micro-organismos de solo associado à sazonalidade microclimática em uma floresta tropical úmida

“…Entre os componentes da biota do solo as bactérias e os fungos detêm altos valores de biomassa e metabolismo respiratório, além de exercerem alta contribuição no processo de decomposição da matéria orgânica (Krishna;Mohan, 2017), ao passo que uma fauna variada desses dois grupos permite a degradação total de restos de plantas e animais (Vargas;Scholles, 2000). Por tanto, o comportamento desta microbiota subterrânea é um excelente indicador de qualidade de matéria orgânica e grau de perturbação por fatores externos como a pluviosidade (Camelo et al, 2021).…”