Microbial enzymatic stoichiometry and the acquisition of C, N, and P in soils under different land-use types in Brazilian semiarid

• Published in: Soil Ecology Letters Vol. 5; no. 3; p. 220159
• Main Authors: Valente de Medeiros, Erika, de Oliveira Silva, Érica, Duda, Gustavo Pereira, Andrade Lira Junior, Mario, José dos Santos, Uemeson, Hammecker, Claude, Paes da Costa, Diogo, Araujo, Fabio Fernando, Prudêncio de Araujo Pereira, Arthur, Mendes, Lucas William, Sergio Ferreira Araujo, Ademir
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Beijing Higher Education Press 01.09.2023; Springer Nature B.V; Springer
• Subjects: Acid phosphatase; Agricultural sciences; C:N:P stoichiometry; Dry forests; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Environment; Enzymes; Forest protection; Forests; Glucosidase; Land use; Life Sciences; Luvisols; Microorganisms; Protected areas; Research Article; Soil biogeochemical cycling; Soil depth; Soil Science & Conservation; Soil study; Soil surfaces; Stoichiometry; Tropical forests; Urease; β-Glucosidase; soil depth; C:N:P stoichiometry; Luvisols; tropical forests
• ISSN: 2662-2289; 2662-2297
• DOI: 10.1007/s42832-022-0159-x

● The enzymatic stoichiometry varied between land-use in both soil depth. ● The values of C- and N-acquiring enzymes were higher at 0−5 cm depth. ● Soils under different land-use types in the Brazilian semiarid are P-limited. This study hypothesized that different land-use affect the microbial enzymatic stoichiometry and C-, N-, and P-acquisition in Brazilian semiarid soils. Thus, the enzymes β-glucosidase (C-acquiring enzyme), urease (N-acquiring enzyme), and acid phosphatase (P-acquiring enzyme) were assessed in soil samples collected at 0−5 and 5−10 cm depth from a tropical dry forest, a protected area with Angico, a protected area with Ipê, scrub area, and an agricultural area with maize. The values of C-, N-, and P-acquiring enzymes were used to calculate the enzymatic C:N, C:P, and N:P ratios. The values of C:P and N:P ratios were higher at 0−5 cm depth, while no significant variation, between soil depth, was observed for C:N ratio. The values of C- and N-acquiring enzymes were higher at 0−5 cm in tropical dry forest areas and Angico forest, respectively. In all land use types, the values of vectors L and A were higher than 1° and 45°, respectively. This study showed that both land-use and soil depth influence the enzymatic stoichiometry, showing higher values of C- and N-acquiring enzymes in native and protected forests at soil surface.