Actividad y biomasa microbianas como indicadores de materia orgánica en sistemas de cultivo de maracuyá (Passiflora edulis) en Toro, Valle del Cauca, Colombia

The relationship among organic matter of the soil, microbial activity and biomass in 3systems of Passion Fruit crop (agriculture-ecological, transition and conventional) in the municipality of Toro (Valle del Cauca) was evaluated. In soil samples taken at random at two depths (0-15 and 15-30 cm), in nine points for handling system, biological properties were measured [microbial activity (C-CO 2 ); microbial biomass (Cmicro) -fumigation, extraction- and physical and chemical properties (organic matter, pH, humidity, texture, apparent density, porosity - traditional methods-)]. Significant differences in organic matter, microbial activity and biomass at both depths specially in the ecological and handling cropping system were observed. The quotients that had energy expense of C -q(CO 2 )- and reserves starting from microbial C-q(C) showed that loss of C were in the following order: Conventional> Transition> Ecological and the accumulation in the contrary way. Key words: Passiflora edulis Sims var flavicarpa; croping systems; organic matter; microbiology; biomass.