Summary
Soil enzyme activities (acid and alkaline phosphatase, arylsulfatase, β-glucosidase, urease and amidase) were determined (0- to 20-cm depth) after 55 years of crop-residue and N-fertilization treatment in a winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-fallow system on semiarid soils of the Pacific Northwest. All residues were incorporated and the treatments were: straw (N0), straw with fall burn (N0FB), straw with spring burn (N0SB), straw plus 45 kg N ha−1 (N45), straw plus 90 kg N ha−1 (N90), straw burned in spring plus 45 kg N ha−1 (N45SB), straw burned in spring plus 90 kg N ha−1 (N90SB), straw plus 2.24 T ha−1 pea-vine residue and straw plus 22.4 T ha−1 of straw-manure. Enzyme activities were significantly (P<0.001) affected by residue management. The highest activities were observed in the manure treated soil, ranging from 36% (acid phosphatase) to 190% increase in activity over the control (N0). The lowest activities occurred in the N0FB (acid phosphatase, arylsulfatase and β-glucosidase) and N90 treated soils (alkaline phosphatase, amidase and urease). Straw-burning had a significant effect only on acid phosphatase activity, which decreased in spring burn treated soil when inorganic N was applied. Urease and amidase activity decreased with long-term addition of inorganic N whereas the pea vine and the manure additions increased urease and amidase activity. There was a highly significant effect from the residue treatments on soil pH. Arylsulfatase, urease, amidase and alkaline phosphatase activities were positively correlated and acid phosphatase activity was negatively correlated with soil pH. Enzyme activities were strongly correlated with soil organic C and total N content. Except for acid phosphatase, there was no significant relationship between enzyme activity and grain yield.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Allmaras RR, Ward K, Douglas CL Jr, Ekin LG (1982) Long-term cultivation effects on hydraulic properties of a Walla Walla silt loam. Soil Tillage Res 2:265–279
Bertrand AR (1981) Soil and water resources: Research priorities for the future. In: Larson WE, Walsh LU, Stewart BA, Boelter DE (eds) Soil and water resources: Research priorities for the nation. Soil Sci Am, Madison, Wisc, pp 199–207
Biederbeck VO, Campbell CA, Bowren KE, Schnitzer M, McIver RN (1980) Effect of burning cereal straw on soil properties and grain yields in Saskatchewan. Soil Sci Soc Am J 44:103–111
Bolton H, Elliott LF, Papendick RI, Bezdicek DF (1985) Soil microbial biomass and selected soil enzyme activities: Effect of fertilization and cropping practices. Soil Biol Biochem 17:297–302
Bremner JM, Mulvaney RL (1978) Urease activity in soils. In: Burns RG (ed) Soil enzymes. Academic Press, New York London, pp 149–196
Burns RG (1982) Enzyme activity in soil: Location and a possible role in microbial ecology. Soil Biol Biochem 14:423–427
Casida LE Jr (1977) Microbial metabolic activity in soil as measured by dehydrogenase determinations. Appl Environ Microbiol 34:630–636
Coote DR, Ramsey JF (1983) Quantification of the effects of over 35 years of intensive cultivation on four soils. Can J Soil Sci 63:1–14
Dick WA, Tabatabai MA (1984) Kinetic parameters of phosphatase in soils and organic waste materials. Soil Sci 137:7–15
Eivazi F, Tabatabai MA (1977) Phosphatase in soils. Soil Biol Biochem 9:167–172
Ensminger LE, Pearson R (1950) Soil nitrogen. Adv Agron 2:81–111
Frankenberger WT, Dick WA (1983) Relationships between enzyme activities and microbial growth and activity indices in soil. Soil Sci Soc Am J 47:945–951
Frankenberger WT, Tabatabai MA (1980) Amidase activity in soils: I. Method of assay. Soil Sci Am J 44:282–287
Frankenberger WT, Tabatabai MA (1981) Amidase activity in soils: III. Stability and distribution. Soil Sci Am J 44:282–287
Frankenberger WT, Tabatabai MA (1982) Amidase and urease activities in plants. Plant Soil 64:153–166
Haas HJ, Power JF, Reichman GA (1976) Effect of crops and fertilizer on soil N, C, and water content, and on succeeding wheat yield and quality. USDA Bulletin ARS-NC-38, Washington DC
Hersman LE, Temple KL (1979) Comparison of ATP, phosphatase, pectinolyase, and respiration as indicators of microbial activity in reclaimed coal strip mine spoils. Soil Sci 127:70–73
Khan SU (1970) Enzymatic activity in a gray wooded soil as influenced by cropping systems and fertilizers. Soil Biol Biochem 2:137–139
Kiss S, Drâgan-Bularda M, Radulescu D (1975) Biological significance of enzymes accumulated in soils. Adv Agron 27:25–87
Ladd JN, Butler JHA (1975) Humus-enzyme systems and synthetic organic polymer — enzyme analogs. In: Paul EA, McLaren AD (eds) Soil biochemistry, vol 4. Marcel Dekker, New York, pp 143–194
Larson WE, Allmaras RR (1971) Management factors and natural forces as related to compaction. In: Carlton WM (ed) Compaction of agricultural soils. Am Soc Agric Eng, St Joseph, Mich, pp 367–427
Miller RJ, Smith RB, Biggar JW (1974) Soil water content: Microwave oven method. Soil Sci Soc Am J 38:535–537
Nannipieri P (1984) Microbial biomass and activity measurements in soil: ecological significance. In: Klug MJ, Reddy CA (eds) Current perspectives in microbial ecology. Am Soc Microbiol, Washington DC, pp 515–521
Nelson DW, Sommers LE (1972) A simple digestion procedure for estimation of total nitrogen in soils and sediments. J Environ Qual 1:423–425
Oveson MM (1966) Conservation of soil N in a wheat-summer fallow farming practice. Agron J 58:444–447
Pikul JL, Allmaras RR (1986) Physical and chemical properties of a Haploxeroll after fifty years of residue management. Soil Sci Soc Am J 50:214–219
Rasmussen PE, Allmaras RR, Rohde CR, Roager NC (1980) Crop residue influences on soil carbon and nitrogen in a wheat-fallow system. Agron J 44:596–600
Skujins J (1978) History of abiontic soil enzyme research. In: Burns RG (ed) Soil enzymes. Academic Press, New York London, pp 1–49
Speir TW (1977) Studies on a climosequence of soils in tussock grasslands. II. Urease, phosphatase and sulfatase activities in top-soils and their relationships with other properties including plant-available sulfur. NZ J Sci 20:159–166
Tabatabai MA (1982) Assay of enzymes in soils. In: Page AL, Miller RH, Keeney DR (eds) Methods of soil analysis, part 2. Agronomy 9:903–947
Tabatabai MA, Bremner JM (1970) Arylsulfatase activity of soils. Soil Sci Soc Am Proc 34:225–229
Unger PW (1982) Surface soil physical properties after 36 years of cropping to winter wheat. Soil Sci Soc Am J 46:796–801
Verstraete W, Voets JP (1977) Soil microbial and biochemical characteristics in relation to soil management and fertility. Soil Biol Biochem 9:253–258
Vlasyuk PA, Lisoval AP (1964) Effect of fertilizers on phosphatase activity of soil. Vestn Skh Nauki, Vses Akad Skh Nauk 9:52–55
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Journal Paper No. 8072 of the Agricultural Experimental Station, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dick, R.P., Rasmussen, P.E. & Kerle, E.A. Influence of long-term residue management on soil enzyme activities in relation to soil chemical properties of a wheat-fallow system. Biol Fert Soils 6, 159–164 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00257667
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00257667