Microbial enzymatic stoichiometry and the acquisition of C, N, and P in soils under different land-use types in Brazilian semiarid

Abstract

The enzymatic stoichiometry varied between land-use in both soil depth.• The values of C-and N-acquiring enzymes were higher at 0−5 cm depth.• Soils under different land-use types in the Brazilian semiarid are P-limited. This study hypothesized that different land-use affect the microbial enzymatic stoichiometry and C-, N-, and P-acquisition in Brazilian semiarid soils. Thus, the enzymes β-glucosidase (C-acquiring enzyme), urease (N-acquiring enzyme), and acid phosphatase (P-acquiring enzyme) were assessed in soil samples collected at 0−5 and 5−10 cm depth from a tropical dry forest, a protected area with Angico, a protected area with Ipê, scrub area, and an agricultural area with maize.