The objective of this study was to evaluate the phytomass yield of nine species of cover crops of the soil and to verify the alterations in the activity and microbial biomass of Cerrado soil, in the State of Goiás, Brazil. The work was developed from March to December, 2004, being sowed the following covering species: Avena strigosa, Cajanus cajan, Crotalaria juncea, Lablab purpureum, Pennicetum americanum, Raphanus sativus, Guizotia abyssinica, Canavalia ensiformis, Crotalatia spectabilis and an area in fallow considered with reference. In the occasion of the flower phytomass yield was determined and starting from August it leaves of this was conditioned in sacks of polyethylene to evaluate the decomposition tax, being in the soil for 120 days. During this period, in every month, they were evaluating the carbon of the microbial biomass and the microbial respiration of the soil. The Cajanus cajan, Pennicetum americanum, Canavalia ensiformis and Guizotia abyssinica are shown as the most promising species for phytomass yield, while the Avena strigosa, Crotalaria juncea and the Raphanus sativus present the smallest phytomass yield. The areas under Pennicetum americanum residues, Raphanus sativus, Crotalatia spectabilis and the fallow affect the carbon of the microbial biomass negatively. Area under resting provided to smallest phytomass yield, reduction in the carbon of the microbial biomass and larger loss of carbon, being this practice no suitable for the Cerrado region.
cover crops, decomposition; microbial biomass; qCO2; microbial quotient
