Comparación de dos métodos para determinar el carbono de la biomasa microbiana en suelos provenientes del Sur del Ecuador

Abstract

The main objective of the study was to compare the methods of basal respiration (RB) and the substrate-induced respiration (SIR) of soils taken from two ecosystems 1) Arenillas Catamayo and 2) Research Station San Francisco South of Ecuador, soils were collected in two phases (wet and dry). In order to determine the microbial biomass carbon two methods was used: 1) Basal method was evaluated according Isermeyer methodology (1952), 2) Method SIR with the methodology of Anderson and Domsch (1978). The SIR method results in increased soil respiration in the ecosystem 1, attributing the differences to the specific characteristics of this ecosystem. The basal method evaluated in different phases and days proved with minor variations among the studied areas due to environmental conditions of the area and laboratory. Values from 14,99 to 9,30 ugCO2g-1h-1 wet phase and 15,86 to 10,67 ugCO2g-1h-1 on a dry basis was obtained. The result indicates that both methods are effective in determination of the carbon in soil microbial biomass