Effect of Tillage and Management on Physicochemical Properties and Microbiota for the Identification of Initial Soil Health Indicators

Degraded soil undergoes long-term physicochemical changes. This study evaluated the relationship among microbial diversity (metagenomic analysis), the possible reactivation of nutrient cycles, and physicochemical parameters in soil subjected to different tillage (zero, minimum, and conventional) and management treatments. The results showed no significant differences (p > 0.05) in any of the physical and chemical characteristics and properties of the soil that were associated with the characteristics inherent to soils in semi-arid regions, such as low natural fertility and limited water availability. Regarding physical properties such as pore radius, bulk density, compaction, and aggregate stability classes, differences (p < 0.05) were found only for soil aggregation. At the phylum level, variations in bacterial and fungal abundances were identified: Proteobacteria predominated across all treatments, linked to carbon and nitrogen cycles; Actinobacteria increased in systems with higher agricultural activity, suggesting an adaptive response to disturbance; and Cyanobacteria appeared exclusively in minimal-intervention treatments, standing out as a conservation bioindicator and nitrogen fixer. These findings demonstrate that low-impact practices and sustainable management emerge as key elements for restoring soil quality and promoting agricultural sustainability in semi-arid regions such as Zacatecas.