Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities and soil organic matter in pasture and analog agroforestry systems

Abstract

Study aimed to (i) assess the impact of analog agroforestry (agrofor) on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), easily extractable glomalin-related soil protein (EE-GRSP), soil organic matter (SOM), and aggregate stability compared with a pasture system and (ii) investigate the chemical, physical and OM properties that explain the differences in soil microbiology between sites. The study was conducted in an agrofor and pasture area. Soil samples were collected in the dry season. A total of 12 AMF taxa were identified. Mean richness was positively correlated with soil pH, Mg2+, sum of bases (SB) and moisture. Mean richness and diversity were higher in the analog agroforestry site. Pasture soil had higher EE-GRSP content and spore abundance, variables that were found to be positively correlated with soil temperature, P, K+, and H + Al. EE-GRSP also showed a positive correlation with total organic carbon. Aggregate stability was greater in soil under analog agroforest than pasture. SOM properties did not differ between sites. It is concluded that agrofor changes the evaluated soil physical and microbiological attributes, and the microbiological attributes are influenced by the pH, Mg+2, K+, SB, P, H+Al, soil moisture and TOC.