This study investigated the effect of eucalyptus plantations in the total organic carbon, microbial biomass and light organic matter from the cerrado in the south region of the State of Piaui. The study was carried out utilizing soil samples from four-year-old Corymbia citriodora and five-year-old Eucalyptus urophilla stands and a preserved cerrado area (control).The management practices of eucalyptus plantations promoted the oxidation of the light organic matter result in gin higher content of soil organic carbon in relation to the preserved cerrado area. The soil microbial biomass in eucalyptus plantations presented low efficiency in the maintenance of carbon compared to the preserved cerrado.
litter; cerrado; forest plantations; carbon