Pfeiffer chromatography as an agroecological indicator of soil health: correlations with chemical and biological attributes in southern Brazil

Integrated assessment of soil quality is essential to understand the effects of agricultural management on the sustainability of agroecosystems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Pfeiffer’s circular chromatography (PCC) as a semi-quantitative tool for assessing soil health in agroecological systems. By comparing soil from fields of organic cassava (Manihot esculenta) cultivation with soil from adjacent native forest areas, this study aimed to validate the sensitivity of chromatographic patterns in reflecting soil quality, established through correlations with conventional chemical, physical, and biological indicators. Chemical and biological analyses were conducted in addition to the Provid and bait-lamina methods to assess soil fauna. PCC scores were correlated with soil chemical attributes, showing a significant negative relationship with clay content (r = −0.89) and positive correlations with phosphorus (r = 0.80) and organic matter (r = 0.76). Organic matter, in particular, was associated with cation exchange capacity and base saturation, confirming its central role in soil fertility and biological activity. Conversely, soil fauna diversity and abundance indices did not significantly differentiate the environments, although Collembola and Diptera stood out as dominant groups. It was concluded that Pfeiffer’s circular chromatography is a sensitive and complementary method for agroecological soil quality assessment, as it integrates physical, chemical, and biological attributes, and highlighted the impacts of agricultural management even under ecologically based cultivation.