%0 Journal Article %T Microbial activity in soil and sediments of the upper Arzobispo River basin %A Cer¨®n R Laura Emilia %A Ram¨ªrez V. Eduardo %J Agronom¨ªa Colombiana %D 2011 %I Universidad Nacional de Colombia %X Soil biochemical properties are indicators of its quality, properties related to biological cycles of the elements. The enzymatic activities play a key role in the biochemical functioning of soils, including the formation and degradation of organic matter, nutrient cycling and decomposition of xenobiotics. To understand the activity of microbial communities and their effect on the dynamics of organic soil matter, it is necessary to focus on two aspects of the dynamics of the biota and the matrix. This study consisted of an approach to identify the measures that cover the state of health and quality of soils and sediments: the enzymatic activities: acid phosphates, alkaline phosphates, dehydrogenate and biphenyl oxides-¦Ï. It can be seen that the response of the evaluated activities and their possible relationship to the gradient of pollution in the river upstream of Arzobispo indicate a threat of degradation. %U http://www.revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/agrocol/article/view/29040