Acid Phosphatase Activity in Soils of the Appalachian Region

Abstract

Acid phosphatase (AP) activity was determined in 14 hill land soils of the Appalachian region. Soil samples were obtained from surface (A or Ap) and subsurface (E, BA, Bt, or Bw) horizons during spring, and subsamples were stored field‐moist at 4 °C and air‐dry (AD) for 36 wk prior to determination of AP activity. The average AP activities of surface and subsurface horizons stored field‐moist at 4 °C were 1.7 to 1.9 times higher than those of AD samples. The average AP activity of air‐dry surface horizons was 3.3 times higher than that of subsurface horizons. Significant positive relationships were found between the AP activities of AD and 4 °C samples, and total C and N content of soils. Positive relationships were observed between AP activities and various forms of soil P. The original soil moisture content by weight or volume and percent water‐filler pores (% WFP) were significantly related to AP activities of surface soil horizons. Each soil type has its own inherent level of phosphatase activity.

Assessing organic phosphorus status of Cerrado oxisols (Brazil) using 31P-NMR spectroscopy and phosphomonoesterase activity measurement

“…2) following the same trend of decreasing total C, total and organic P contents (Table 2). Other authors also observed a decrease of PME activity with increasing soil depth and underlined that this decrease was associated with a decrease in C content (Deng and Tabatabai 1997;Baligar et al 1988). …”

Enzyme activities in Appalachian soils: 3. Pyro‐phosphatase

“…They believed that increase in solubility of inorganic and organic P due to drying might have inhibited PPi activity. Decreased (15,19) or increased (20) and Edneytown had the lowest PPi activities. Higher activities of PPi are invariably related to higher organic C content of the soil.…”

“…The details of these analytical methods, as well as soil horizons and their properties, are given in an earlier paper by Baligar et al (15), and the range and mean of soil properties are listed in a paper by Baligar and Wright (17).…”

“…and negatively correlated with pH (9). Recently, Baligar et al (15,16) and Baligar and Wright (17) have reported adequate levels of acid phosphatase, urease, and arylsulfatase activities in 14 hill-land soils of the Appalachian Region. Activities of these enzymes declined with soil deSignificant relationships were observed between these enzyme activities and, organic C, N, forms of S and P, original soil moisture, basic cations, and pH.…”

Activities of soil enzymes in fields continuously cultivated with cassava, sugarcane, and pineapple in middle terrace areas of Lampung Province, South Sumatra, Indonesia

“…Changes in soil properties such as contents of organic C and total N in soils due to continuous cultivation of particular crops affect the activities of soil enzymes (N annipieri et al 1980;Frankenberger and Dick 1983;Baruah and Mishra 1984;Baligar et al 1988).…”