Page 49 - Enzymes in Tropical Soils

Enzymes in Tropical Soils 37

Phosphatase activity was found to be strongly correlated with the hyphal length.
The phosphatase activity was highest within 10 mm from the root surface. Jha et
al. (1992) also reported that the activity of dehydrogenase was postively correlated
with fungal population numbers in forest soils.

100

80

Activity (mg p-Nitrophenol g -1 h -1 ) 60 a-Glucosidase

40

20
phosphatase
0 Alkaline
50 150 250 350
Respiration
(mg CO kg 24h )
-1
-1
2

Fig. 4.2. The relationship between enzyme activities and CO 2 evolution
(Drawn from Frankenberger and Dick, 1983).

b. Roles of Soil Macroorganisms

Soil macroorganisms also produce some soil enzymes. One of the soil
macroorganisms that has been extensively researched is earthworms (Lumbriscus
terrestris) (Ross and Cairns, 1982; Satchel and Martin, 1984; Park et al., 1992; Le
Bayon and Binet, 2005; Supriatin et al., 2007). It has been reported that the activity
of phosphatase in soils inhabited by earthworms was higher than that in the
control soil (Ross and Cairns, 1982; Satchell and Martin, 1984; Supriatin et al.,
2007). Ross and Cairns (1982) further reported that earthworms increased the
cellulase and sulfatase activities and also stimulated the activities of invertase,

Abdul Kadir Salam - 2014