ORGANIC FRACTIONS, MICROBIAL BIOMASS CARBON, AND THEIR INTERRELATIONSHIPS WITH STRUCTURAL ATTRIBUTES IN DIFFERENT LAND USES

Soil organic matter is an indicator of soil functionality in semi-arid regions, and the study of organic components, along with biological and structural attributes, reflects soil management techniques and aids in agroecosystem management. In this scenario, this study aimed to evaluate the interrelations between soil organic matter fractions, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and glomalin (GEF) with structural attributes in different land uses in the Chapada do Apodi plateau, semi-arid Brazil. The study was conducted in banana, papaya, pasture, and native forest areas. Disturbed and undisturbed soil samples were collected at depths of 0.00-0.10 m and 0.10-0.20 m to determine organic, biological, and structural attributes. The results were analyzed using multivariate statistical analysis, which identified three factors with a total accumulated variance of 90.19%. Papaya and banana cultivation areas were distinguished by total organic carbon, organic fractions, and labile and non-labile carbon. The native forest was characterized by high GEF (10.21 and 8.91 mg/g) and MBC (280.00 and 225.45 mu g/g soil C). The pasture area showed signs of structural and biological degradation, indicated by the carbon management index (79.52 and 33.31%), GEF (2.32 and 2.20 mg/g), and MBC (123.64 and 61.82 mu g/g soil C). Land uses with organic matter input, MBC, and GEF contributed to the maintenance of agroecosystems, whereas pastureland was more susceptible to degradation.