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Soil enzyme activities and their indication for fertility of urban forest soil

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Abstract

To reveal the biological characteristics of urban forest soil and the effects of soil enzyme on soil fertility as well as the correlation between physicochemical properties and enzyme activities, 44 urban forest soil profiles in Nanjing were investigated. Basic soil physicochemical properties and enzyme activities were analyzed in the laboratory. Hydrogen peroxidase, dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, and cellulase were determined by potassium permanganate titration, TTC (C19H15N4·Cl) colorimetry, phenyl phosphate dinatrium colorimetry, and anthrone colorimetry, respectively. The result showed that soil pH, organic carbon (C), and total nitrogen (N) had great effects on hydrogen peroxidase, dehydrogenase, and alkaline phosphatase activities in 0–20 cm thick soil. However, pH only had great effect on hydrogen peroxidase, dehydrogenase, and alkaline phosphatase activities in 20–40 cm thick soil. Hydrogen peroxidase, dehydrogenase, and alkaline phosphatase were important biological indicators for the fertility of urban forest soil. Both in 0–20 cmand 20–40 cmsoil, soil enzyme system (hydrogen peroxidase, dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, and cellulase) had a close relationship with a combination of physicochemical indicators (pH, organic C, total N, available K, available P, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and microbial biomass carbon (Cmic)). The more soil enzyme activities there were, the higher the fertility of urban forest soil.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Forest Resource and Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China

    Qihua Shan, Yuanchun Yu & Jinchi Zhang

  2. College of Territorial Resources and Tourism, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241000, China

    Jian Yu

Authors
  1. Qihua Shan
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  2. Yuanchun Yu
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  3. Jian Yu
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  4. Jinchi Zhang
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Correspondence to Yuanchun Yu.

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Translated from Urban Environment & Urban Ecology, 2007, 20(4): 4–6, 9 [译自: 城市环境与城市生态]

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Shan, Q., Yu, Y., Yu, J. et al. Soil enzyme activities and their indication for fertility of urban forest soil. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. China 2, 218–223 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-008-0037-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-008-0037-5

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