Comparative Analysis of Soil Biological Activity and Macroinvertebrate Diversity in Amazonian Chakra Agroforestry and Tropical Rainforests in Ecuador

Thony Huera-Lucero, Bolier Torres, Carlos Bravo-Medina, Beatriz García-Nogales, Luis Vicente and Antonio López-Piñeiro ()
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Thony Huera-Lucero: Área de Edafología y Química Agrícola, Facultad de Ciencias—Instituto del Agua Cambio Climático y Sostenibilidad, Universidad de Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain
Bolier Torres: Ochroma Consulting & Services, Tena 150150, Ecuador
Carlos Bravo-Medina: Facultad de Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad Estatal Amazónica (UEA), Puyo 160101, Ecuador
Beatriz García-Nogales: Área de Edafología y Química Agrícola, Facultad de Ciencias—Instituto del Agua Cambio Climático y Sostenibilidad, Universidad de Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain
Luis Vicente: Área de Edafología y Química Agrícola, Facultad de Ciencias—Instituto del Agua Cambio Climático y Sostenibilidad, Universidad de Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain
Antonio López-Piñeiro: Área de Edafología y Química Agrícola, Facultad de Ciencias—Instituto del Agua Cambio Climático y Sostenibilidad, Universidad de Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 8, 1-21

Abstract: Soil biological activity and macroinvertebrate diversity are key indicators of ecosystem function in tropical landscapes. This study evaluates the effects of different land-use systems—Amazonian Chakra agroforestry (timber-based and fruit-based), cocoa monoculture, and tropical rainforest—on soil microbial respiration, enzymatic activity, and macroinvertebrate diversity in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Forest soils exhibited the highest edaphic respiration (240 ± 64.3 mg CO 2 m 2 ha −1 , p = 0.034), while agroforestry systems maintained intermediate biological activity, surpassing monocultures in microbial diversity and enzymatic function. The soil organic matter (SOM) content at a 10 cm depth was significantly higher in monocultures (19.8 ± 3.88%) than in agroforestry and forest soils ( p = 0.006); however, the enzymatic activity showed greater functional responses in agroforestry and forest systems. The relationship between recorded CO 2 respiration (REC_CO 2 ) and basal respiration (RBC_CO 2 ) exhibited a non-linear trend, as revealed by LOWESS smoothing, suggesting that microbial respiration dynamics are influenced by substrate availability and enzymatic thresholds beyond simple linear predictions. These findings underscore the potential of agroforestry as a sustainable land-use strategy that enhances soil biodiversity, carbon sequestration and nutrient cycling. Implementing optimized agroforestry practices can contribute to long-term soil conservation and ecosystem resilience in tropical agroecosystems.

Keywords: soil biology; microbial respiration; soil invertebrates; agroforestry systems; Ecuadorian Amazon (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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