Biological activities determine quality, sustainability, health, and fertility of soils. The purpose of this study was to evaluate chemical and biological characteristics of soils from Ecuadorian highlands subjected to different management practices, as well as the density and diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Soils from naturalized grasslands and other previously cropped plots with Zea mays and Solanum tuberosum were analyzed in laboratory for soil biochemical properties, enzyme activity, and AMF colonization to determine the effect of the soil management over its quality. The characterization of AMF propagules associated to spontaneously colonizing plants in the above soils was also performed. Soil previously cropped with S. tuberosum showed the highest glomalin content; at the same time, naturalized grassland and Z. mays cropped soils showed higher hyphal length. The acid phosphatase activity was higher in naturalized grasslands and Z. mays cropped soils compared with that in the S. tuberosum cropped soils. Moreover, the highest AMF colonization rates and spore number were found in different spontaneous plant species growing in the naturalized grasslands. This study represents the first characterization of AMF propagules of different cropped and naturalized grassland soils, and also is one of the first reports about changes on biochemical and microbial activities occurring in Andean soils from the highlands of Ecuador, undergoing determinant soil management activities.

中文翻译：

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厄瓜多尔高地安第斯地区代表性作物的土壤生物学特性和丛枝菌根真菌群落

生物活动决定了土壤的质量、可持续性、健康和肥力。本研究的目的是评估厄瓜多尔高地土壤在不同管理方式下的化学和生物特征，以及丛枝菌根真菌 (AMF) 的密度和多样性。在实验室中分析了归化草原和其他先前种植有玉米和马铃薯的地块的土壤的土壤生化特性、酶活性和 AMF 定植，以确定土壤管理对其质量的影响。还对与上述土壤中自发定殖植物相关的 AMF 繁殖体进行了表征。先前种植马铃薯的土壤显示出最高的球藻蛋白含量；同时，归化草原和Z. mays 种植的土壤显示出更高的菌丝长度。与马铃薯种植土壤相比，归化草原和玉米种植土壤的酸性磷酸酶活性更高。此外，在归化草原中生长的不同自发植物物种中发现了最高的 AMF 定植率和孢子数。这项研究首次表征了不同耕作和归化草地土壤的 AMF 繁殖体，也是关于厄瓜多尔高地安第斯土壤中生化和微生物活动发生变化的首批报告之一，这些变化正在进行决定性的土壤管理活动。在归化草原中生长的不同自发植物物种中发现了最高的 AMF 定植率和孢子数。这项研究首次表征了不同耕作和归化草地土壤的 AMF 繁殖体，也是关于厄瓜多尔高地安第斯土壤中生化和微生物活动发生变化的首批报告之一，这些变化正在进行决定性的土壤管理活动。在归化草原中生长的不同自发植物物种中发现了最高的 AMF 定植率和孢子数。这项研究首次表征了不同耕作和归化草地土壤的 AMF 繁殖体，也是关于厄瓜多尔高地安第斯土壤中生化和微生物活动发生变化的首批报告之一，这些变化正在进行决定性的土壤管理活动。