Evaluación de la actividad enzimática de la β-glucosidasa en suelos tropicales bajo cultivos de arroz y forrajes, como indicador de la salud del suelo y su relación con microorganismos celulolíticos

The enzymatic activity of β-glucosidase (BG) was evaluated in a Vertisol under rice, forage, and rice-forages rotation, as a potential indicator of soil health. BG activity was measured at two soil depths (0–5 cm and 30–60 cm) using spectrophotometry and related to carbon and nitrogen content, as well as the abundance of cellulolytic microorganisms isolated on CMC agar. Higher BG activity was found in the surface layer, showing positive associations with carbon content and total microbial biomass. Although no statistically significant differences were observed among cropping systems, trends were identified in relation to nutrient availability and total microbial abundance, as well as increased enzymatic activity linked to efficient genera such as Streptomyces, Bacillus, and Paenibacillus. These results support the use of β-glucosidase as a functional indicator of soil health and highlight the value of agricultural practices that promote diversification, residue recycling and sustainability in tropical agroecosystems.