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Franca, SC; Gornes-Da-Costa, SM; Silveira, APD. 2007. Microbial activity and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal diversity in conventional and organic citrus orchards. BIOLOGICAL AGRICULTURE & HORTICULTURE. 25(2):91-102. Address: Franca, SC, Univ Sao Paulo, ESALQ, Av Padua Dias 11, BR-13418900 Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
In Brazil, organic citriculture promoters are trying to develop production systems with higher soil microbial activity and, therefore, with a higher potential for natural control of pests and diseases. Little is known, however, about the influence of management on the soil microbiota in citrus orchards. Aspects of soil microbial activity and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal diversity were studied in two agroecosystems of orange in Sao Paulo, Brazil, one under conventional and the other under organic management. The soil in the organic system showed higher microbial biomass carbon, respiration and metabolic quotient (respiration/biomass) than the soil in the conventional system. With respect to cellulase activity, there was no difference between the two systems. The AMF richness and diversity were higher under organic management.
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