Comparative Assessment of Microbial Abundance and Activity between No-Tillage and Secondary Forest in the Atlantic Forest Biome
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Agricultural practices alter soil properties and functions; however, biological indicators remain underexplored in soil health assessments. We investigated the sensitivity of key soil enzymes (arylsulfatase, urease, acid phosphatase, and β-glucosidase) and other biological indicators, including basal soil respiration (BSR), microbial biomass carbon, metabolic quotient, and total and easily extractable glomalin-related soil protein (T-GRSP and EE-GRSP), in distinguishing secondary forest from no-tillage. Soil samples were collected across seven mesoregions of Paraná State, southern Brazil. Statistical analyses were performed using Wilcoxon non-parametric tests (α ≤ 0.05). SF soils exhibited significantly higher microbial abundance and activity in 76% of the evaluated parameters, with arylsulfatase activity and GRSP showing the greatest sensitivity, as significant differences were observed across all seven locations. These findings underscore the ecological importance of forest fragments within agricultural landscapes. GRSP and arylsulfatase activity effectively reflect land use changes, offering practical tools for rapid soil health assessment in the Atlantic Forest biome.
Institution: Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa
Language: English
Subfield: Soil Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDGs: Life on land, Zero hunger
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,500
Awards: G3690646728, G4584779373
OpenAlex ID: W7166534967