Correlations between enzymatic activities and microbiological parameters in lacustrine and alluvial soils of Venezuela under different uses

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the possible correlations between some microbiological parameters of the soil (basal respiration, carbon of the microbial biomass) and the activity of some enzymes involved in the C, N and P cycles, in order to know if the latter could be considered as indicators of microbial activity in alluvial and lacustrine soils of the Lake Valencia Basin (Venezuela) under different uses. The activities of b glucosidase, urease, protease, acid and alkaline phosphomonoesterase, dehydrogenase and arginine ammonification were determined in soils under natural vegetation, sugarcane and banana cultivation. Positive and significant correlations were found between enzymatic activities and microbial biomass carbon and basal respiration, as well as with total organic carbon content, water-soluble carbon, and soil physical and chemical properties. Protease activity showed the highest correlation coefficient with the carbon of the microbial biomass. Acid phosphomonoesterase activity had the highest coefficient with respect to basal respiration, and alkaline phosphomonoesterase with dehydrogenase activity and arginine ammonification. The correlation coefficient between b glucosidase activity and the percentage of total organic C was found to be the highest for all hydrolases. Positive and significant correlations between enzyme activity and biological activity with total organic carbon suggest the existence of an important relationship between microbiological activity and soil organic matter content.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.56238/sevenIVmulti2023-072