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

Abstract

● 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.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

C:N:P stoichiometry / tropical forests / soil depth / Luvisols.

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