ATRIBUTOS BIOLÓGICOS E MICROBIOLÓGICOS COMO INDICADORES DE QUALIDADE DO SOLO

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.26525260310

• Palavras-chave: organismos do solo; biomassa microbiana; fauna do solo.

• Keywords: soil organisms; microbial biomass; soil fauna.

• Abstract: One of the ways to evaluate the soil is through the analysis of its quality, determining some attributes that serve as indicators. Biological and microbiological attributes are tools used in various studies to indicate whether the soil is taking its way towards sustainability or degradation. The organisms that inhabit the soil are classified according to their size, being divided into macrofauna, mesofauna, microfauna and microorganisms. The macrofauna is composed of organisms larger than 10 mm; mesofauna, by organisms whose body length varies from 0.2 to 2 mm approximately; and microfauna, by those with a length of less than 0.2 mm. Microorganisms, on the other hand, mainly include bacteria, fungi, and algae. In this review, the biological attributes that indicate soil quality will be addressed: macrofauna, mesofauna and microorganisms. From the results obtained with these tools, it is possible to implement agricultural management capable of reducing soil degradation and improving its quality.