02592naa a2200337 a 450000100080000000500110000800800410001910000180006024500760007826000090015452017060016365000160186965000200188565000220190565000190192765000130194665000090195965000220196865000200199065000160201065000140202665000090204065300230204965300240207265300060209665300120210270000190211470000160213370000160214977300890216516212232001-07-24       2000    bl ---       0--  u    #d1 aNDIAYE, E. L.  aIntegrative biological indicators for detecting change in soil quality.  c2000  aTo promote agricultural sustainability, there is a growing interest in developing soil quality indicators that can be used as early indicators of changes in management practices by growers agricultural professionals, and  researchers. A study was conducted on four commercial growers fields and two research stations in western Oregon with that had been started from 1 to 7 years prior to initiating the investigation. The primary comparison at each site was a winter cover crop and winter fallow in rotation with summer vegetable crops. The effects of these treatments on microbial biomass carbon (MBc), mineralizable N, soil enzyme activity (arylsulfatase and B-glucosidase), and cotton strip decomposition were analyzed to monitor changes in soil quality over a 2-year period. The cotton strip method was tested because of its simplicity (buried in soil for short periods and then assessed for tensile strength or weight loss) and potential as a soil biological indicator. Results showed that cover cropping significantly affected MBc and soil enzyme activity. Mineralizable N and CO2 respiration (laboratory incubation) did not respond to winter cover crop treatment. Cotton strip decomposition was relatively ensensitive to field treatments. Because MBc and B-glucosidase activity responded quickly to field management treatment and were less variable than the other measurements, they showed the most potential as soil quality indicators. Total C (organic matter index) and extractable nutrients were not significantly affected by cover cropping (even after 7 years), indicanting selected biological  properties are superior to these chemical properties for detecting effects of soil management.  acover crops  aenzyme activity  amicrobial biomass  amineralization  anitrogen  asoil  aCobertura do Solo  aMineralização  aNitrogênio  aQualidade  aSolo  aAtividade Engimica  aBiomassa microbiana  aN  aQuality1 aSANDENO, J. M.1 aMCGRATH, D.1 aDICK, R. P.  tAmerican Journal of Alternative Agriculture, Greenbeltgv. 15, n. 1, p. 26-36, 2000.