La presente investigación tuvo como objetivo evaluar cambios de la calidad del suelo asociados a la implementación de técnicas de agricultura ecológica (AE) en cafetales bajo diferentes coberturas en San José de Pare, Boyacá. Para el cumplimiento de este objetivo se determinaron cambios en parámetros fisicoquímicos, abundancia de grupos funcionales de microorganismos (solubilizadores de fosfatos, celulolíticos, fijadores de nitrógeno) y actividades enzimáticas (fosfatasa acida y alcalina, β -glucosidasa, ureasa y proteasa). Las muestras de suelo se recolectaron de manera bimensual durante un periodo de diez meses en parcelas con cultivo de café con tres diferentes coberturas: plátano, mandarina y una mezcla de cítricos. Los resultados mostraron modificaciones de los indicadores de calidad del suelo como consecuencia de la aplicación de técnicas de AE, encontrando un aumento significativo en el contenido de fósforo, carbono, bacterias y hongos solubilizadores de fosfato y hongos celulolíticos. En contraste, no se observaron cambios significativamente relevantes en la actividad enzimática.

Introduction: This article is the result of the research work “Evaluation of the quality of the soil associated with the use of mycorrhizae in coffee plantations in the Municipality of Sasaima, Cundinamarca” carried out duringthe years 2018 and 2019 at the Universidad Libre. Problem: Several investigations report the use of mycorrhizal fungi in plant development, however, there are few studies regarding the relationship between mycorrhizae and soil quality indicators. Methodology: Four plots were evaluated, applying: 1) Control; 2) Local native mycorrhizae isolated by the authors; 3) Commercial liquid mycorrhizae; and 4) Commercial solid mycorrhizae. The samples of the rhizosphericsoils were taken and bimonthly monitoring was applied until 5 collection cycles were obtained. The physicochemical parameters, abundance of functional groups of microorganisms, and enzymatic activities ofthe soil were determined and analyzed by means of univariate and multivariate statistical analysis. Conclusion: The research hypothesis was validated since the mycorrhizae inoculation significantly increased the values of the soil quality indicators, namely organic carbon (14%), moisture (19%), phosphorus (30%), abundanceof nitrogen-fixing bacteria (5.5%), phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (7.8%), cellulolytic bacteria (9.3%), and phosphate-solubilizing fungi (2.6%). In addition, the local native mycorrhizae that were isolated by theauthors showed greater benefits than those of the commercial mycorrhizae. Originality: This research reveals the impact of mycorrhizae on the soil quality indicators over time during thefirst year of application, especially on the microbial and enzymatic parameters. Limitations: Several authors have investigated the importance of the mycorrhizae on the physicochemical parameters of the plant, and not on the microbial and enzymatic parameters of the soil.