Abstract

NUNEZ RAMOS, Pedro Antonio et al. Soil microbial biomass and urease activity in a grazed permanent pasture from Chile. Cienc. suelo [online]. 2012, vol.30, n.2, pp.187-199. ISSN 1850-2067.

In pasture systems, management practices can affect pasture productivity differently due to their impact on soil microorganisms and nutrient cycling. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between soil microbial biomass (MB) nitrogen (MBN), carbon (MBC) and urease activity (UA) in a permanent pasture in southern Chile. Two grazing systems were evaluated between spring 2005 and winter 2006 : heavy grazing (HG), light grazing (LG) and a control treatment (C). Treatments were arranged in a randomized block design with three replications. Concerning the average values of the variables measured at the beginning and at the end of grazing, there was an increase in the content of BC of 21.8 and 8.6% for HG and LG, while the control was only 1.9%. BN contents were also increased by 16 and 19% for HG and LG, respectively, compared with the control (4%). The urease activity increased by 13 and 27% for HG and LG, respectively, compared with the control (5%). Grazing produced a higher flow of organic residues in the soil, stimulating microbial biomass and therefore increasing the UA and the BC and BN content. Thus, soil biological fertility and nutrient availability s increase under grazing systems.

Keywords : Grazing; Biological activity; Carbon and nitrogen biomass.

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