Resumen

BENINTENDE, Silvia et al. Characterization of biological and biochemical indicators in alfisols, mollisols and vertisols of Entre Ríos. Cienc. suelo [online]. 2012, vol.30, n.1, pp.23-39. ISSN 1850-2067.

Entre Ríos soils have been developed on different materials and in a varied topography, which has resulted in a variety of soils. The objectives of this paper were to characterize and establish relationships between biological and biochemical indicators of soil quality in areas of minimum disturbance in Mollisols, Vertisols and Alfisols of Entre Ríos and to analyze their similarities and differences. Soil samples were taken in areas with minimal disturbance and biological and biochemical indicators were measured: organic C (Corg), total N (Ntot), microbial biomass C and N (CBM and NBM), N mineralized in 7 days anaerobic incubations (N-IA) and respiration. Metabolic quotient (qCO₂) and relationships between these variables were estimated. Results showed a wide range of extreme values of biological indicators. The differences found between extreme values were: 16% for Corg, 16.5% for Ntot, 33% for CBM, 46% for NBM and 62% for N-IA. The variables that were highlighted were: N-IA, CBM and CBM/Corg. In relation to the evaluated variables, soils belonging to the order Vertisol could be grouped first, followed by vertic Argiudoll. To establish critical levels of soil quality indicators, reference values will be required for each soil subgroup, while subgroups belonging to Vertisols may be grouped.

Palabras clave : Microbial biomass; Potentially mineralized N.

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