Primavera do Leste is one of the most important farming areas of Mato Grosso State. This study was carried out in a Red-Yellow Latosol to evaluate the microbial biomass and enzyme activities in soils under native vegetation (known as "Cerradão") and in soils under annual and perennial cropping systems. Soil samples were collected, at the beginning of the rainy season, at two depths (0-5 and 5-20 cm) in areas under a vineyard (row and between rows), annual crops (soybean) and native vegetation. The parameters evaluated were soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC), readily mineralizable carbon (microbial respiration) and the soil enzymes beta-glucosidase, acid phosphatase and arylsulfatase. In relation to the native area, at the two depths reductions of up to 70% in the MBC were observed in the annual and perennial cropping systems. The soil management conducted in the area between the rows of the vineyard along with the presence of the grass Eleusine indica, as a cover crop, favored an increase in the levels of readily mineralizable carbon, and the beta-glucosidase and arilsulfatase activities. The P content of the soil under Cerradão, at the two depths, reduced the levels of acid phosphatase activities as compared to other places of the Cerrados region. Nevertheless, at the 0-5 cm depth the phosphatase activity of the Cerradão area was greater than in the annual crops, showing the importance of this enzyme on organic P cycling in native ecosystems. The results confirmed the sensibility of microbiological and biochemical parameters to evaluate changes that occurred in soil as a consequence of different management systems.
biomass carbon; beta-glucosidase; acid phosphatase; arylsulfatase; microbial respiration; Cerrado; soybean; vineyards
