The soil microbiomes of the Brazilian Cerrado

Purpose The slightly exuberant appearance suggests a misleading idea of an insignificant diversity of microorganisms in Cerrado soils. Thus, a review is necessary, gathering essential information on the microbiology of the Cerrado soil, and its biogeochemical processes, as well as the effects of anthropogenic impacts on this important biome. Materials and methods We reviewed studies of microbiota, bacteria, archaea, and fungi, from the Cerrado soil, which were carried out by metagenomic methods, or amplicons sequencing. Also, we evaluated the descriptions of the Cerrado's characteristics, and describe the implications of the expansion of agricultural areas, anthropic impacts, and wildfires on the soil microbiota. Results and discussion The acidic soil, subject to variations in nutrient cycling depending on the climatic season, reflects on the structures of the communities of the main bacterial groups of Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Actinobacteria. Members of the Archaea are also abundant in the Cerrado soil, with an emphasis on representatives of the groups Euryarchaeota, Crenarchaeota, and Thaumarchaeota. The fungi found in Cerrado soils are normally dominated by Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, which exert influence of the impact of land use, such as grazing and agriculture. Despite its immense microbial biodiversity, the Cerrado constantly suffers the impacts of the new agricultural frontier, which has been devastating the biome through the cultivation of sugarcane, maize, cotton, and soybean monocultures, in particular. Conclusions These activities, with consequent loss of native areas of the Cerrado, modify the microbiome present in the soil, changing the flow of nutrients and interfering in biogeochemical processes.

Automated summary

The diverse microbiota in Cerrado soils, including bacteria, archaea, and fungi, are influenced by acidic soil and seasonal variations. Agricultural expansion, human impacts, and wildfires can alter soil microbiota, affecting biogeochemical processes.