土壤水解类酶活性在玉米秸秆与肥料配合施用下的变化

通过田间试验,进行了玉米秸秆与厩肥、N肥和P肥配合施入农田后土壤中水解类酶活性变化的研究.结果表明:在小麦生长期内,秸秆配合氮磷肥处理的蔗糖酶活性最高60.09±2.74 mg GLU/(g·24 h),比对照处理高出28.09±1.79%,脲酶也以秸秆配合氮磷肥处理最高2.86±0.10 mg NH3-N/(g·24 h),是对照处理的1.04±0.03倍,秸秆配合氮肥处理的碱性磷酸酶活性最高4.01±0.05 mg酚/(g·24 h),比对照高出0.28±0.05 mg酚/(g·24 h),秸秆还田处理的3种酶活性都高于对照,配合施用的有机肥和氮磷肥则在小麦的不同生长期、不同酶活性间表现出不同的作用.脲酶活性与蔗糖酶活性、土壤温度都呈极显著相关,蔗糖酶活性、碱性磷酸酶和土壤温度之间相关性不显著.     

辉河湿地河岸带土壤养分与酶活性特征及相关性研究

以辉河湿地国家自然保护区内核心区为研究区,通过野外采样和室内分析相结合的方法,研究土壤养分和酶活性特征以及二者间的相关性。结果表明,随着距河岸距离的增大以及高程的增加,辉河湿地河岸带土壤理化性质发生明显的梯度变化,土壤全氮、全磷和有机质含量从岸边芦苇带到岸坡草本植物带呈先增大后下降的变化趋势,而土壤含水量呈下降趋势。同时,土壤酶活性(碱性磷酸酶、脲酶)也随着植被群落的陆向演替,呈现出一定的差异和变化规律,整体呈增大趋势,其活性与全氮、全磷、有机质呈极显著正相关(P0.01),与土壤含水量呈极显著负相关(P0.01)。综合分析表明,辉河湿地河岸带土壤酶活性不仅与土壤性质有关,与水文状况、微地形、植被演替也密切相关。     

东寨港红树林湿地土壤因子与酶活性的关系

[目的] 红树林是热带、亚热带典型的海岸带湿地生态系统。分析不同植物群落条件下红树林湿地的土壤活性有机碳组成、土壤酶活性现状以及两者间的相互作用,进而预测东寨港红树林片区的生态结构和功能发展趋势,为东寨港红树林湿地的生态恢复与保护提供科学依据。[方法] 通过实地采样,对9种红树植物群落类型〔红海榄(Type 1)、白骨壤(Type 2)、角果木(Type 3)、海莲+角果木(Type 4)、桐花树+海莲+秋茄(Type 5)、海莲+榄李+桐花树(Type 6)、秋茄+海莲+榄李(Type 7)、海莲+无瓣海桑+桐花树+秋茄(Type 8)、海莲+无瓣海桑(Type 9)〕的土壤酶活性、土壤活性有机碳组分含量和理化性质进行化验分析。[结果] ①该区表层土壤有机碳介于6.57~74.87 g/kg之间,在不同群落类型间以Type 7群落显著最高,Type 1群落低至6.57 g/kg。②各群落类型湿地表层土壤酶活性变化规律为：脲酶＞磷酸酶＞过氧化氢酶＞蔗糖酶,其中脲酶以Type 8群落最高,显著高于Type 1—6群落;磷酸酶以Type 8群落最高,显著高于Type 1—3群落;过氧化氢酶以Type 5最高,显著高于其余群落(Type 6和Type 7除外);蔗糖酶以Type 9群落最高,显著高于Type 2,Type 5和Type 8群落。③土壤脲酶、磷酸酶和过氧化氢酶与土壤活性有机碳各组分含量呈显著及极显著正相关;土壤脲酶、磷酸酶与土壤pH值呈极显著负相关,与全氮、全磷呈极显著正相关;土壤过氧化氢酶与全氮、全磷呈极显著正相关;土壤蔗糖酶与全氮、全磷呈显著正相关。④冗余分析结果显示：土壤轻组有机碳、土壤总有机碳、土壤颗粒有机碳和土壤微生物生物量碳是影响东寨港红树林植物群落土壤酶活性的主要因子。[结论] 土壤酶活性与多种土壤活性有机碳组分呈紧密正相关,因此可用土壤酶活来表征东寨港红树林湿地土壤碳库活跃程度。     

不同母质类型水稻土酶活性及其与理化性质的关系

将选自湖南双季稻区6种典型成土母质发育的水稻土置于长沙市郊同一生态条件下,通过7年定位池栽试验,研究了不同母质类型对土壤酶活性的影响以及酶活性与土壤理化性质之间的关系。结果表明：不同母质类型对土壤蔗糖酶活性的影响达到显著水平(P<0.05),对酸性磷酸酶、脲酶及过氧化氢酶活性的影响达到极显著水平(P<0.01)。主成分分析表明不同母质发育的水稻土酸性磷酸酶及脲酶作为综合评价土壤酶活性的指标要优于蔗糖酶及过氧化氢酶。6种不同母质水稻土土壤酶综合得分排序为：板页岩>河流沉积物>花岗岩>第四纪红土>紫色页岩>石灰岩。相关性分析表明,土壤蔗糖酶活性与有机质、全氮含量呈显著的正相关关系(P<0.05)。脲酶活性与硝态氮、铵态氮含量呈显著的正相关关系(P<0.05),与pH值呈显著的负相关关系(P<0.05)。酸性磷酸酶活性与速效磷含量呈显著正相关关系(P<0.05),与pH值呈显著负相关关系(P<0.05)。     

长期施肥对土壤酶活性和氮磷养分的影响

10年定位试验的结果表明，有机肥与化肥配合施用能提高土壤有机质和氮磷养分含量，增强土壤蛋白酶、脾酶、转化酶、磷酸酶和过氧化氢酶的活性。其中，土壤蛋白酶、腺酶、转化酶的活性与土壤NH4+-N和有机质，土壤磷酸酶的活性与土壤有效磷和有机质呈显著或极显著正相关。有机肥和化肥长期配合施用，可为作物生长创造一种良好的土壤环境。在水稻生育期，土壤蛋白酶、脲酶和转化酶的活性随水稻生育期递进而降低;土壤磷酸酶的活性在水稻拔节期至抽穗期最高，分蘖期和成熟期较低。土壤的酶活性与氮、磷养分的有效化密切相关。     

土壤pH对不同酸性敏感型水稻品种氮利用效率与根际土壤生物学特性的影响

为探讨酸化土壤影响水稻氮利用效率的土壤生物学机制,以酸性敏感型品种五优308和酸性特异型品种荆楚优148为材料,采用盆栽试验考察不同土壤pH条件下水稻的氮利用效率指标与根际土壤酶活性及微生物数量的关系。结果表明,在土壤pH值3.5~6.5范围内,五优308氮素稻谷生产效率(NGPE)与氮生理效率(NPE)随土壤pH值的下降显著降低,氮收获指数(NHI)变化不明显;而荆楚优148中3个指标在pH值5.0时最大。土壤pH值的下降均降低了2个品种的根际土壤酶活性,但品种间、时期间降幅稍有差异。五优308各时期磷脂脂肪酸(PLFA)含量随土壤pH值降低而降低,而荆楚优148各时期PLFA含量在pH值5.0时最高。五优308的NGPE、NPE与3种土壤酶活性均呈显著正相关,而NHI仅与蔗糖酶活性呈极显著正相关;荆楚优148氮利用效率指标与土壤酶活性呈负相关,与土壤蔗糖酶和脲酶活性的相关性较显著;五优308氮利用效率指标与微生物数量呈正相关,但其显著性在不同生育时期间与微生物间有一定差异;而荆楚优148氮利用效率指标与分蘖~孕穗期土壤微生物数量呈极显著正相关,与齐穗期土壤微生物数量呈极显著负相关。由此可见,酸性敏感型水稻品种氮利用效率随土壤pH下降显著降低,且主要由根际土壤酶活性与微生物数量显著下降所致;而酸性特异型水稻品种氮利用效率在pH值5.0时最大,且其与土壤生物学特性指标的相关性表现与酸性敏感型水稻品种不同。本研究初步明确了酸化稻田影响水稻氮利用效率的土壤生物学机制,为酸化稻田适宜水稻品种选择提供了参考。     

甘肃省盐碱草地主要植物群落土壤酶活性研究

对甘肃省盐碱地主要植物群落土壤脲酶、过氧化氢酶、碱性磷酸酶、脱氢酶及硝酸还原酶活性的季节动态进行研究。结果表明,5种土壤酶活性季节变化趋势不同,脲酶、过氧化氢酶及碱性磷酸酶活性均在夏季达到最高,硝酸还原酶在秋季最高,脱氢酶在春季最高;不同植物群落土壤酶活性变化趋势不同,脲酶、碱性磷酸酶、过氧化氢酶活性在狗尾草群落(Setaria viridis)具最大活性,硝酸还原酶、脱氢酶活性在芦苇群落(Phragmites australis)均最高,5种酶活性在盐爪爪群落(Kalidium foliatum)均最低;各植物群落的土壤酶活性多表现为随着土壤深度的加深呈递减趋势,在表层0—5cm土层,土壤酶活性最强。对5种酶之间的相关性进行分析,研究发现碱性磷酸酶与脲酶、过氧化氢酶间呈极显著相关,脲酶与过氧化氢酶、硝酸还原酶与脱氢酶间呈显著相关。     

不同施肥处理下灌耕灰钙土水解酶活性的剖面分布及其相关性

在不同施肥处理下,对西北半干旱区灌耕灰钙土,土壤转化酶、脲酶和碱性磷酸酶活性的剖面分布以及土壤酶与土壤全量养分、土壤酶之间相关性进行研究。结果表明,各处理在小麦的各个生育期土壤转化酶、脲酶和碱性磷酸酶的活性均为:0～10 cm土层10～20 cm土层20～40 cm土层,且绝大多数处理各土层之间酶活性差异都达到显著水平。土壤转化酶、脲酶和碱性磷酸酶与土壤有机质、全氮、全磷含量基本呈正相关,有的达到显著和极显著水平,三种酶与全钾含量均为负相关,基本未达显著。土壤转化酶、脲酶和碱性磷酸酶活性三者之间的相关性呈极显著和显著正相关,酶的总体活性大小可以用来衡量土壤肥力水平的高低。     

宁夏贺兰山东麓酿酒葡萄基地土壤酶活性

调查了宁夏御马酿酒葡萄基地不同栽培年限下土壤的蔗糖酶、磷酸酶、脲酶、过氧化氢酶的活性,并与土壤的基本理化性质进行了回归分析。结果表明,供试土壤为强碱性反应,耕作施肥对土壤pH和全盐含量影响不显著;土壤有机质、全氮、铵态氮、速效磷、阳离子代换量大都处于最低的六级水平,但肥力随耕种年限的延长显著增加;随栽培年限的延长,表层土壤磷酸酶活性、蔗糖酶和脲酶活性显著增加;蔗糖酶、脲酶活性随剖面深度的加深而显著减小;表土过氧化氢酶活性随栽培年限的延长而显著下降,但不同土地利用下表层以下各层次土壤过氧化氢酶活性总体上高于表层,且差异显著。磷酸酶活性与土壤有机质、全氮、全磷、速效磷、缓效钾、速效钾之间存在着极显著相关关系;磷酸酶活性、蔗糖酶和脲酶活性与土壤有机质、全氮、全磷、速效磷、缓效钾、速效钾之间存在着极显著相关关系;四种酶之间,磷酸酶与脲酶之间存在极显著相关关系,脲酶与蔗糖酶之间存在极显著相关关系。由此表明,磷酸酶、脲酶、蔗糖酶活性的大小可以代表宁夏贺兰山东麓酿酒葡萄栽培区土壤肥力的高低。     

生物质炭对水稻土中脱氢酶活性和铁还原过程的影响

为探究添加生物质炭对淹水稻田体系脱氢酶活性及土水界面铁还原过程的影响,选择2种不同地区水稻土,采用土壤泥浆厌氧培养试验方法,分析添加不同粒径生物质炭后泥浆培养体系中脱氢酶活性、pH以及Fe(Ⅱ)浓度的变化。结果表明:生物质炭能够提高水稻土厌氧培养体系的脱氢酶活性,促进微生物铁还原进程。脱氢酶活性和铁还原能力随着生物质炭粒径的减小而增大。未添加生物质炭的处理中,2种水稻土脱氢酶活性最大分别为3.13,2.60μg/(ml·g·min),Fe(Ⅱ)累积量最高分别为8.07,7.44mg/g;通过添加生物质炭,2种水稻土培养体系脱氢酶活性最大分别达4.35,4.18μg/(ml·g·min)、Fe(Ⅱ)累积量最高分别为9.01,8.18mg/g。典范对应分析显示,水稻土初始pH与最大铁还原潜势及达到最大铁还原速率对应的时间呈极显著相关,表明生物质炭对铁还原过程的影响因土壤性质不同而存在差异;脱氢酶活性、Fe(Ⅱ)累积量之间呈现极显著的相关关系,两者在培养过程中相互促进。     

铅对两个红壤中酶活性的影响

Enzyme activities have the potential to indicate biological functioning of soils. In this study, soil urease, dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase and invertase activities and fluorescein diacetate（FDA） hydrolysis were measured in two red soils spiked with Pb^2＋ ranging from 0 to 2 400 mg kg^-1 to relate the enzyme activity values to both plant growth and the levels of available and total Pb^2＋ concentrations in soils, and to examine the potential use of soil enzymes to assess the degrees of Pb contamination. Soil samples were taken for enzyme activities assaying during 3 month’s incubation and then after planting of celery（Apium graveolens L.） and Chinese cabbage（Brassica chinensis L.）. Enzyme activities in the red soil derived from arenaceous rock（RAR） were generally lower than those in the red soil developed on Quaternary red earths（REQ）. At high Pb^2＋ loadings, in both incubation and greenhouse studies, urease activity and FDA hydrolysis were significantly inhibited. But there were no significant relationships between soil dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase or invertase activity and soil Pb^2＋ loadings in both RAR and REQ soils. The growth of celery and Chinese cabbage increased soil urease activity and FDA hydrolysis, but had minimal effect on dehydrogenase and invertase activities. There were positive correlations between celery biomass and soil urease activity and FDA hydrolysis. These results demonstrate that urease activity and FDA hydrolysis are more sensitive to Pb^2＋ than acid phosphatase, dehydrogenase and invertase activities in the RAR and REQ soils.     

淹水厌氧培养对水稻土中酶活性的影响

An incubation experiment with soil water content treatments of 0.15 （W1）, 0.20 （W2）, and 0.40 （W3） g g^-1 soil was carried out for two months to investigate the activities of important enzymes involved in C, N, P, and S cycling in a paddy soil from the Taihu Lake region, China, under waterlogged and aerobic conditions. Compared with air-dried soil, waterlogging resulted in a significant decrease （P ≤ 0.05） of fluorescein diacetate （FDA） and /3-D-glucosidase activities, and this effect was enhanced with increasing waterlogging time. Waterlogging also significantly inhibited （P ≤ 0.05） arylsulfatase as well as alkaline and acid phosphatase activities, but did not decrease the activities with the increase in waterlogging time. Short-term waterlogging did not affect urease activity, but prolonged waterlogging decreased it markedly. In contrast, the aerobic incubation （W1 and W2 treatments） significantly increased （P ≤ 0.05） FDA, alkaline phosphatase, and /3-D-glucosidase activities. With aerobic treatments the activities of FDA and alkaline phosphatase increased with incubation time, whereas /3-D-glucosidase activity decreased. A significant difference （P ≤ 0.05） was usually observed between the W1 and W2 treatments for the activities of FDA as well as alkaline and acid phosphatase; however,/3-D-glucosidase and urease were usually not significant （P ≤ 0.05）. No activity differences were observed between waterlogging and aerobic incubation for arylsulfatase and urease.     

Development of a sensitive and rapid method for the measurement of total microbial activity using fluorescein diacetate (FDA) in a range of soils

Fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolysis is widely accepted as an accurate and simple method for measuring total microbial activity in a range of environmental samples, including soils. Colourless fluorescein diacetate is hydrolysed by both free and membrane bound enzymes, releasing a coloured end product fluorescein which can be measured by spectrophotometry. The current method for measuring FDA hydrolysis in soils is limited in its application. FDA activity was very low in sandy and clayey soils. The low activity observed for these soil types was made difficult to measure by the original authors’ choice of solvent for terminating the hydrolysis reaction. Acetone (50% v/v) was found to be most efficient at stopping the hydrolysis reaction. During this study acetone (50% v/v) was found to cause a decrease of approximately 37% in the absorbance of fluorescein produced by the soil samples measured. Although this colour loss is independent of initial fluorescein concentration, it makes the measurement of FDA hydrolytic activity extremely difficult in soils with low microbial activity i.e. sandy and/or clayey soils. Chloroform/methanol (2:1 v/v) was found to successfully stop the hydrolysis reaction for up to 50 min in a range of soil samples without causing the loss of colour observed with acetone. By changing the solvent used for terminating the hydrolysis reaction, low activity soils could be measured successfully. Other parameters of the hydrolysis reaction were optimised for the measurement of soil samples including effect of pH, optimum temperature of incubation, amount of soil, time of incubation, amount of substrate and preparation of suitable standards. A new, more sensitive method is proposed adapted from the original method, which provides a more accurate determination of FDA hydrolysis in a wide range of soils.     

利用复合方法对不同耕作系统中的土壤微生物活性进行分析

Cropping activities may affect soil microbial activities and biomass,which would affect C and N cycling in soil and thus the crop yields and quality.In the present study,a combination of microcalorimetric,enzyme activity(sucrase,urease,catalase,and fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis),and real-time polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) analyses was used to investigate microbial status of farmland soils,collected from 5 different sites in Huazhong Agriculture University,China.Our results showed that among the 5sites,both positive and negative impacts of cropping activities on soil microbial activity were observed.Enzyme activity analysis showed that cropping activities reduced soil sucrase and urease activities,which would influence the C and N cycles in soil.Much more attentions should be given to microbial status affected by cropping activities in future.According to the correlation analysis,fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis showed a significantly(P 0.05) negative correlation with the time to reach the maximum power output(R ——0.898),but a significantly(P 0.05) positive correlation with bacterial gene copy number(R = 0.817).Soil catalase activity also showed a significantly(P 0.05) positive correlation with bacterial gene copy number(R = 0.965).Using combined methods would provide virtual information of soil microbial status.     

Short-Time Response of Microbial Communities to Waste Compost Amendment of an Intensive Cultivated Soil in Southern Italy

In an intensely cultivated soil in southern Italy, the effects of municipal waste compost on soil activities (basal respiration, β-glucosidase, and fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolysis), Biolog functional diversity, pH, and electrical conductivity (EC) were estimated in a short period following amendment. Treatment with compost at 30 t ha^?1 (dry matter) was compared to mineral fertilization and untreated soil. In these poor soils, organic amendment allowed the rapid recovery of an active and biodiverse soil community. While the addition of compost increased all microbial activities and EC, the pH did not change. Conversely, metabolic activity that was positively correlated to FDA hydrolysis rate initially was enhanced by compost but decreased with time and disappeared at the end of the incubation. Results indicated that waste compost amendments affected microbial activities, both at global and functional levels, favoring a rapid return of biological factors of fertility.     

生物菌肥对采煤塌陷复垦土壤生物活性及盆栽油菜产量和品质的影响

通过盆栽试验,采用完全随机区组设计,研究了与化肥、有机肥配施下,不同生物菌肥用量对矿区复垦地土壤微生物生化强度和酶活性以及油菜产量和品质的影响。结果表明:施用生物菌肥能够明显增强土壤生化作用强度,提高土壤酶活性;菌肥处理土壤的呼吸强度、氨化作用强度、硝化作用强度和过氧化氢酶活性均显著高于对照(P0.05);当菌肥用量大于0.04g·kg-1(土)时,菌肥处理的土壤脲酶和蔗糖酶活性与对照差异显著(P0.05)。此外,施用菌肥还可以提高油菜产量,改善油菜品质;菌肥处理的油菜单株干重、硝酸盐和还原糖含量与对照差异显著(P0.05);菌肥用量大于0.04g·kg-1(土)时,油菜Vc含量与对照存在显著差异(P0.05);菌肥用量小于0.08g·kg-1(土)时,单株鲜重与对照差异不显著。本研究表明施用生物菌肥对塌陷复垦土壤生物活性有促进作用,并能够改善油菜品质。     

Fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis,respiration and microbial biomass in freshly amended soils

The hydrolysis of the fluorescein diacetate (FDA), related to several soil hydrolases, has been utilised to estimate the potential microbial activity of soil freshly amended with a wide range of organic amendments and compared to the size and activity of soil microflora, measured by the microbial biomass C (B _C) and CO₂ evolution, respectively. Three different composting mixtures at different phases of the composting process were added to a semi-arid soil and incubated for 2 months under laboratory conditions. The addition of the organic amendment immediately increased B _C and both measures of microbial activity (FDA and CO₂ evolution). Highly significant correlations were found between FDA hydrolysis and B _C for soil amended with the three composting mixtures (r = 0.81–0.96; P < 0.01), regardless of the origin, composition and degree of stability of the organic amendments. FDA hydrolysis, conversely to CO₂ evolution, was unaffected by the disturbance caused by the soil amendment, indicating that the two parameters probably reflect different aspects of soil microbial activity. FDA hydrolysis could serve as an alternative estimation of the microbial biomass in freshly amended soils, despite the disturbance caused by the exogenous organic matter.     

秦岭山脉典型林分土壤酶活性与土壤养分关系的探讨

秦岭作为我国南北方气候的分界线,其上生长着许多独特林分,加之未受到人为活动扰动,故对其包括土壤酶及养分等在内的土壤效应研究具有重要参比性,且可为揭示不同林分的土壤效应及筛选最优林分奠定基础。选取秦岭不同海拔生长的五种典型林分(锐齿栎、油松、华山松、云杉及松栎混交)土壤,分析了7种土壤酶活性和养分变化特征,并探讨了二者间关系及林分的影响。结果表明:不同林分下土壤养分及酶活性变化差异较大,土壤性质强烈受到林分种类及海拔等生态环境条件的影响,其中云杉土壤的有机质、全氮、碱解氮、速效钾、缓效钾含量均较高,是秦岭山脉生长较好的树种之一;且土壤有机质、全氮、碱解氮等养分变化规律较一致;土壤碱性磷酸酶、荧光素二乙酸酯(FDA)水解酶及总体酶活性(TEI)与土壤养分呈显著或极显著正相关,表明林分和海拔对这三种酶的影响与养分是一致的;采用单独土壤酶活性与土壤酶和化学性质复合开展的主成分分析结果一致,获得的综合得分与上述三种酶类达显著或极显著正相关,揭示出它们在一定程度上可表征森林土壤的质量水平,且单一酶类中土壤碱性磷酸酶活性可更容易、简便地反映土壤肥力状况的变化。     

Long-term application of compost influences microbial biomass and enzyme activities in a tropical Aeric Endoaquept planted to rice under flooded condition

In a field study, long-term application of compost to a tropical Aeric Endoaquept under continuous rice growing in a rice-rice-fallow sequence resulted in the stimulation of microbial biomass and select soil enzyme activities. Mean seasonal soil microbial biomass-C (C_mic) increased by 42%, 39% and 89% in inorganic fertilizer, compost and compost+inorganic fertilizer treatments, respectively, over the unamended control. C_mic content was also influenced by the rice crop growth stage and was highest at maximum tillering stage irrespective of treatments and declined thereafter. Soil organic C (C_org) content showed highly significant positive correlation with dehydrogenase, urease, cellulase, β-glucosidase and fluorescein di-acetate (FDA) hydrolysis activity, and a positive but not significant correlation with invertase and amidase activity. C/N ratio which was lowest in unamended control plots showed a significant positive relationship with only the enzymes involved in C cycle. Stepwise regression analysis revealed that for prediction of both total organic C and total N, FDA hydrolysis activity contributed significantly for the variance and explained up to 85-96% variability. Results demonstrated that microbial biomass and soil enzyme activity is sensitive in discriminating between long-term organic residue amendment practices.     

Assay for fluorescein diacetate hydrolytic activity: Optimization for soil samples

With the increased interest in integrated soil bioecosystem studies, there is a need to have a method of measuring overall microbial activity potential. Hydrolysis of fluorescein diacetate [3′,6′-diacetylfluorescein (FDA)] has been suggested as a possible method because the ubiquitous lipase, protease, and esterase enzymes are involved in the hydrolysis of FDA. Following hydrolysis of FDA, fluorescein is released and can be measured spectrophotometrically. Our objective was to optimize the assay for FDA hydrolytic activity in soil samples and determine the kinetic parameters involved in this reaction. The optimized method involves extraction and quantitative measurement of the fluorescein released when 1.0 g of soil is incubated with 50 ml of 60 mM Na-phosphate solution (buffered at pH 7.6) at 37 °C for 3 h. Results showed that FDA hydrolysis was optimum at buffer pH 7.6 and the soil enzymes were denatured at temperatures above 60 °C. Three soils were used to optimize this method: Heiden clay, Raub silt loam, and Cecil sandy loam. This procedure is simple, precise, and can be used in commercial soil testing laboratories to determine general microbial activity and as a soil quality indicator.