Page 110 - Enzymes in Tropical Soils

98 Enzymes In Tropical Soils

0
10 C (Sparks, 1989). The effect of soil temperature on the soil enzymatic reaction
rates can be understood by examining the Arrhenius equation (Eq. 2.2).

35

30
(mg NH 3 g -1 2h -1 ) 15 Hill Soil
25
Activity 20

10

5 Pasture Soil
0
0 17 27 37 47 57
Incubation Temperature
o
( C)

Fig. 6.11. The temperature dependence of urease activity in hill and pasture soils of India
(Redrawn from Dash et al., 1981).

6.5 Regulating Soil Water Contents and Temperature

The relationship between the soil water content and/or the soil
temperature with the soil enzymatic activities suggests that the rates of
biochemical reactions can be regulated by changing these soil properties
depending in the existing need. Sometimes, the soil water is too low and the
activities of soil enzymes are also relatively low. The rates of the biochemical
reactions can be increased by increasing the soil water content to a particular
value. The rates of the soil biochemical reaction may also be managed by soil
temperature. Increasing or decreasing the soil temperature may set the enzymatic
activities at values beneficial for nutrient availabilities in soils.

Abdul Kadir Salam - 2014