Integrating Microbial Activity with the Physical Aspects of Soil in Agroforestry Systems

Abstract

The Green Revolution enabled an exponential increase in global agricultural production. With this growth, numerous challenges have arisen concerning the need to address the impacts on the sustainability of the agricultural system, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and climate change. Thus, the adoption of strategies based on soil quality conservation, restoration, and agroecosystem management - such as Integrated Production Systems (IPS) - has become imperative. The objective of this project is to comprehend the effect of adopting sustainable agricultural practices on soil microbial activity - revealed through enzymatic activity - and its interaction with the physical attributes of the soil under Agroforestry Systems (AFS). To achieve this, soil samples will be collected from two production systems: (a) monoculture of oil palm and (b) AFS with oil palm as the primary economic interest, located in the state of Pará, Amazon, as part of a long-term experiment. Subsequently, the soil samples will undergo analysis of microbial activity by determining the activity of the enzymes ²-glucosidase, acid phosphatase, and arylsulfatase, along with physical soil attributes such as density, porosity, and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat). Through the results obtained in this study, a holistic evaluation of the positive and/or negative effects of AFS adoption compared to monoculture on the biological and physical quality of the soil is expected. This assessment, in conjunction with their interaction, aims to provide valuable insights for decision-making processes amid the challenge of mitigating the environmental impact of agriculture.