At Figueroa a small town of the municipality of Popayan, Department of Cauca, Colombia, in eight farms located between 1750 and 1800 meters above sea level, the microbial activity in the plant rizosphere of the Colombian cof fee variety was estimated to relate it with some properties of the soil and shading was estimated. Soil samples were taken 0 and 10 cm during in the grain harvest season (june/05) to determine physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil. In addition, three more samples were collected in july, august and october, to estimate biological activity. In soils under partial shade, organic matter content was higher, as well as humidity, water retention capacity, and nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and manganese availability. Statistically higher differences in respiration and microbial biomass were found during the summer season (august/05) and lower in the rainy seasons (october /05). When comparing the different farms, the organic matter content a direct relationship was found. The microbial carbon was 0.5% and 0.9% of the total carbon present in the organic matter of the studied soil.