Abstract

ABRIL, Adriana. Are soil microorganisms good indicators of land-use impact in ecosystems?. Ecol. austral [online]. 2003, vol.13, n.2, pp.195-204. ISSN 1667-782X.

Soil microbial parameters as land-use indicators were evaluated in the semi-arid central region of Argentina. Contrasting land-use situations were compared in Chaco woodlands and Espinal agro-ecosystems: high impact (positive and negative), medium impact, low impact, and restoration. The sensibility of chemical (organic matter, pH, and nitrate) and biological (soil respiration and abundance of microbial functional groups) parameters was evaluated by estimating the percent variation between disturbed and undisturbed soils in each land-use situation. Moreover, microbial community structure (relation among functional groups) and carbon mineralization rate (respiration/organic matter) were calculated. Biological parameters were more sensitive than the chemical ones. Nitrifiers (variation range: -55% to +23%), cellulolitics (-50% to +49%), and soil respiration (-60% to +21%) were the most sensitive parameters. The changes on microbial community and carbon mineralization rate were good indicators, particularly in medium impact and restoration situations. Some biological parameters may have an important role as indicators for sustainable land-use ecosystems due to their high sensibility and easiness to measure.

Keywords : Bioindicators; Soil degradation; Sustainability.

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