Enzymatic activity of β-glucosidase in clonal eucalyptus plantations under high forest and coppice systems across different seasonal conditions

ABSTRACT: Soil enzymatic activity is associated with organic matter dynamics, playing a key role in biogeochemical cycles by mediating the transformation of organic compounds and the cycling of nutrients essential to the functioning of forest ecosystems. β-glucosidase, in particular, is related to cellulose degradation and responds sensitively to changes in management practices, plant material, and climatic conditions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of management system, clone, and seasonality on β-glucosidase activity in clonal eucalyptus plantations. The study was conducted in Telêmaco Borba, Paraná State, Brazil, using three commercial clones: A1 and G7 (Eucalyptus urophylla) and K2 (Eucalyptus saligna), managed under high forest and coppice systems. Soil samples were collected at the end of the rainy season (February 2025) and at the end of the dry season (August 2025). β-glucosidase activity was determined using a colorimetric method, and data were analyzed by factorial ANOVA with multiple mean comparisons. Enzymatic activity was significantly influenced by seasonality and management, with interactions between clone and sampling period. Higher β-glucosidase activity was observed during the rainy season, particularly for clone G7. During the dry season, activity decreased under seedling based planting, whereas coppice systems maintained higher or more stable levels. These results indicate greater resilience of soil enzymatic activity in coppice systems under climatic seasonality, highlighting that microbial responses depend on the interaction between forest management and genetic material, with direct implications for the regulation of soil biogeochemical processes.