Soil compactness (hardsetting layers) caused by anthropogenic or natural action represents a great challenge, because the related agro-environmental limitations. As a few investigations in the southeastern region of the Brazilian state Bahia, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) research can represent a great contribution around Coastal tableland soils. Soil samples were collected from two depths (A horizon: 0-15 cm and B-horizon: 35-50 cm) of four land uses (natural forest, rubber tree plantation, pasture, and annual crops) at the cocoa-tree region (state of Bahia, Brazil, between 16o10' to 16o30' S and 39o05' to 49o40' WG). Mycorrhizal Inoculum Potential (MIP) bioassay and AM fungal spore counts were estimated in soil microbial laboratory at the University of Florida. Natural forest soil (phosphorus concentration 0.00 mg kg-1) came out with lowest number of AM fungal spores while pasture soil (phosphorus concentration 3.75 mg kg-1) showed a greatest number of AM fungal spores. Improve nutritional status of this distrophic soil may increase mycorrhizal association. Increase of AM fungal activity and population diversity in the Tableland soils, especially the coeso layers, is important to diminish the edaphologic limitations associated with this those layers. Key words: Mycorrhiza, Coeso soil, Brazilian Coastal Tableland.