Changes in the chemistry of soil solution and acetic-acid extractable P following different types of freeze/thaw episodes

Freezing significantly influences the amount and chemical form of extractable soil phosphorus and, therefore, has important consequences regarding plant nutrient availability. Much of the current evidence relies on field-based observations and tends to be rather contradictory. The present work reports the specific effects various freezing episodes have on phosphorus availability. Experimental treatments included the freezing rate and the time soil remained frozen together with the number of freeze/thaw cycles. These laboratory incubations used two soils, an iron humus podzol and a peaty podzol, sub-samples of which were equilibrated at three different soil-moisture contents. Concentrations of phosphorus in soil solutions and acetic acid extracts (Ac-P) were measured. Freezing had the greatest effect on the organic (Op) horizon of the peaty podzol, where the amounts of total dissolved phosphorus (TDP) and Ac-P increased from 0.58 to 3.21 and from 11.8 to 19.3 mg P kg^?1, respectively. TDP in soil solution was subdivided into three broad categories, dissolved (molybdate) reactive (MRP), organic (DOP) and condensed (DCP). The rather variable effect that freeze/thaw episodes had on these fractions highlighted the problems associated with attributing the ‘freezing effect’ to any single process.     

The phosphorus composition of soil solutions and soil leachates: Influence of soil:solution ratio

Compositional differences between soil solutions obtained by different methods have frequently been reported; variations in the soi1: solution ratio may explain these results. In this study we compared the amount and composition of phosphorus (P) in soil leachates and soil solutions from a temperate grassland soil in northeast Scotland and determined the influence of soi1:solution ratio on P fractions in soil water extracts. Leachates were collected from intact soil cores over 6 months, the cores were then destructively sampled, and soil solutions obtained by centrifuging. Molybdate reactive P (MRP) represented 71% of the total dissolved P (TDP) in soil leachates but only 54% in soil solutions. The MRP component in soil water extracts increased from 71% to 92% as the soi1:solution ratio increased from 1:15 to 1:15·4, while the dissolved organic P (DOP) component decreased from 26% to 6%. As the soil:solution ratio increased the amount of MRP extracted increased; by contrast the amount of DOP and dissolved condensed P (DCP) extracted remained constant. While the MRP component is regulated by soil sorption processes, the supply and amount of DOP and DCP is probably related to biological activity. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) extracted at wide soi1:solution ratios contained a smaller proportion of P than that extracted at narrower ratios. The results indicate differences in the behaviour of P fractions in the soil at various soi1:solution ratios and that these are reflected in the P composition of soil solution and leachate.     

洛桑试验站Broadbalk长期小麦试验地排水中磷组分研究

Total P (TP), total participate P (PP), total dissolved P (TDP), molybdate reactive P (MRP) and dissolved organic P (DOP) were determined in waters from pipe-drains (at 65-cm depth) from the Broadbalk Experiment at Rothamsted Research, UK. Average TP and PP exceeded 1 mg L^-1 in about half of the 12 plots receiving superphosphate for the 5 measurements taken between December 2000 and April 2001. Ranging between 33.8% and 87.3% of TP, PP was the largest P fraction in drainage waters, with DOP, ranging from 0.5% to 26.2% of TP, being the smallest fraction. Mean proportions of PP, MRP and DOP in TP in drainage waters were 63.4%, 32.5% and 4.1%, respectively. These findings support previous findings that P losses from soil to drainage waters were much larger than previously thought, and could therefore make a significant contribution to eutrophication.     

塿土磷素淋移的形态研究

利用设在     

Components of organic phosphorus in soil extracts that are hydrolysed by phytase and acid phosphatase

 Extracts were prepared from soil using water, 50 mM citric acid (pH ∼2.3) or 0.5 M NaHCO₃ (pH 8.5), and were incubated with excess phytase from Aspergillus niger to determine the amounts of labile P. Two A. niger phytase preparations were used: (1) a purified form which exhibited a narrow substrate specificity and high specific activity against phytate; and (2) a commercial preparation (Sigma) with activity against a broad range of P compounds. A comparatively large proportion (up to 79%, or 5.7 μg g^–1 soil) of the organic P (P_o) extracted with citric acid was hydrolysed by the commercial phytase, while between 28% and 40% (up to 3.1 μg g^–1 soil) was hydrolysed using purified phytase. By comparison, only small quantities of the P_o in water and NaHCO₃ soil extracts were enzyme labile. While extractable P_o was increased both with increasing concentrations of citric acid (up to 50 mM) and increasing pH (pH 2.3–6.0), enzyme-labile P increased only with citric acid concentration. The labile component of P_o in citric acid extracts from soils with contrasting fertiliser histories indicated that enzyme-labile P_o is a relatively large soil P pool and is potentially an important source of P for plants. Received: 29 October 1999     

Fractions in Drainage Waters from the BroadbalkContinuous Wheat Experiment at Rothamsted

Total P (TP), total particulate P (PP), total dissolved P (TDP), molybdate reactive P (MRP) and dissolved organicP (DOP) were determined in waters from pipe-drains (at 65-cm depth) from the Broadbalk Experiment at RothamstedResearch, UK. Average TP and PP exceeded 1 mg L-1 in about half of the 12 plots receiving superphosphate for the5 measurements taken between December 2000 and April 2001. Ranging between 33.8% and 87.3% of TP, PP was thelargest P fraction in drainage waters, with DOP, ranging from 0.5% to 26.2% of TP, being the smallest fraction. Meanproportions of PP, MRP and DOP in TP in drainage waters were 63.4%, 32.5% and 4.1%, respectively. These findingssupport previous findings that P losses from soil to drainage waters were much larger than previously thought, and couldtherefore make a significant contribution to eutrophication.     

Assessing the bioavailability of dissolved organic phosphorus in pasture and cultivated soils treated with different rates of nitrogen fertiliser

A proportion of dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) in soil leachates is readily available for uptake by aquatic organisms and, therefore, can represent a hazard to surface water quality. A study was conducted to characterise DOP in water extracts and soil P fractions of lysimeter soils (pasture before and after, and cultivated soil after leaching to simulate a wet winter-autumn) from a field trial. Data on DOP in drainage waters from the field trial were also generated. In water extracts, used as a surrogate for soil solution and drainage water, 70-90% of the total dissolved P (TDP) concentration was made up of DOP, of which 40% was hydrolysable by phosphatase enzymes. Proportions of hydrolysable DOP to TDP in drainage waters of the field trial were less than in water extracts due to enhanced DRP loss via dung inputs, but still large at 35% of DOP. Analysis of lysimeter soils by sequential fractionation indicated that several organic P fractions changed with land use and due to leaching. Further investigation using NaOH-EDTA extracts and ³¹P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy indicated that the greatest changes were a decrease in the concentrations of orthophosphate diester P and an increase in orthophosphate monoester P. This was attributed to mineralization by cultivation and plant roots and also to the leaching of mobile diester P. This study suggests that in such soils with a dynamic soil organic P pool, the concentration of readily bioavailable P in soil solution and drainage waters and the potential to impair surface water quality cannot be determined from the DRP concentration alone.     

(土娄)土磷素淋移的形态研究

利用设在(?)土上的两个长期肥料定位试验所形成的不同土壤磷素水平试验小区的土壤,用原状土柱模拟灌溉(降水)进行了磷的淋失研究。结果表明,(?)土中磷淋移的主要形态为可溶性磷,平均占淋失全磷量的82.5%,颗粒磷占17.9%;在可溶性磷中,以钼酸盐反应磷居多,平均占全磷量的77.1%,可溶性有机磷只占全磷的13.8%;淋失到20cm以下的全磷浓度最高可达3.95 mg L-1,可溶性全磷最高达3.57 mg L-1; 在历时60d,相当于357mm(约为年灌溉降雨总和的36%)的灌溉量时,最大淋失总磷量达到1082 g hm-2;13次淋滤实验结果显示,渗滤液中钼酸盐反应磷、可溶性全磷和全磷浓度与土壤耕层Llsen-P呈显著正相关。     

畜禽粪便中磷释放运移特征

随着畜禽粪便农田施用量的增加,畜禽粪便中磷流失也越来越引起人们的重视。采用取样分析和室内土柱模拟的方法,研究了猪粪和鸡粪中磷在水、0.5mol·L^-1NaHCO3和土体中的释放运移特点。结果表明,猪粪经H2O和NaHCO3连续提取后,H2O提取液中无机磷（P）i占猪粪全磷（TP）的21.58%,NaHCO3提取液中Pi占猪粪TP的28.92%;鸡粪经H2O和NaHCO3连续提取后,H2O提取液中Pi占鸡粪TP的18.09%,NaHCO3提取液中Pi占鸡粪TP的17.88%;施用猪粪和鸡粪处理土柱淋溶液中水溶性总磷（TDP）、水溶性无机磷（DRP）和水溶性有机磷（DOP）浓度均随着淋溶次数的增加呈先上升后降低的趋势,施用猪粪处理磷释放速率比施用鸡粪处理快;大量施用猪粪和鸡粪后,0～30cm土体中土壤全磷（TP）和0～60cm土体中土壤速效磷（Olsen-P）的含量显著增加。     

我国4种土壤磷素淋溶流失特征

磷素是水体富营养化的主要限制因子,地表水磷的污染负荷主要来源于农业面源污染。采集黑土、潮土、红壤和水稻土4种土壤,采用土柱模拟的试验方法,研究磷素在4种土壤剖面中空间分布特征,以及土壤渗漏液中TP、TDP的含量、动态变化以及流失量特征。结果表明:(1)不同类型土壤全磷和有效磷含量差异性显著,由高到低依次为水稻土潮土黑土红壤;黑土、红壤和水稻土土壤全磷和有效磷含量都表现出,随土壤深度的增加,不断降低;而潮土剖面呈上下层高,中间低的分布格局。(2)4种土壤渗漏液中占主导的磷形态不一致,潮土以MRP占主导,黑土和水稻土以DOP为主,而红壤则以PP为主。土壤磷素动态变化方面,潮土表现为TP含量先减后增再减,TDP含量先增后减;黑土表现为TP含量先增后减,TDP含量持续下降;红壤和水稻土TP和TDP含量变化不显著。(3)相关分析表明,4种土壤中Olsen-P与渗漏液中TP呈指数关系,具有极显著相关性。(4)4种土壤TP、TDP下渗流失量都以潮土最高,其次是黑土和水稻土,红壤流失量最小,磷素流失以TDP为主。     

Impact of anthropogenic induced nitrogen input and liming on phosphorus leaching in forest soils

Phosphorus (P) is essential for sustainable forest growth, yet the impact of anthropogenic impacts on P leaching losses from forest soils is hardly known. We conducted an irrigation experiment with 128 mesocosms from three forest sites representing a gradient of resin extractable P of the A‐horizon. On each site we selected a Fagus sylvatica and a Picea abies managed subsite. We simulated ambient rain (AR), anthropogenic nitrogen input (NI) of 100 kg (ha · a)^?1 and forest liming (FL) with a dolomite input of 0.3 Mg (ha · a)^?1. Soil solution was extracted from the organic layer, 10 cm depth and 20 cm depth of the mesocosms, and analyzed for molybdate reactive phosphorus (MRP) and molybdate unreactive phosphorus (MUP). Additionally, we separated colloids from the soil solution using Asymmetric Field Flow Fractionation for assessing the colloidal fraction of total element concentrations. NI increased MRP and MUP concentrations for all plots with one exception, while FL decreased MRP and MUP with the exception of another plot. While the irrigation treatments had little impact on the P‐richest site, MRP and MUP concentrations changed strongly at the poorer sites. The colloidal fraction of P in the soil solution equaled 38–47% of the total P load. Nitrogen input and liming also affected the Fe, Al, Ca, and Corg contents of the colloidal fraction.     

太湖地区渗育性水稻土径流中磷组分的研究

本试验于 2 0 0 2年在太湖地区渗育性水稻土上进行 ,研究不同施磷水平下 (P 0、30、70、15 0和30 0kghm-2 )麦稻轮作中土壤径流磷的损失。研究结果表明 :在麦稻轮作期间 ,除最高施磷处理P 30 0kghm-2的径流磷损失达到P 0 75kghm-2 外 ,其余各施肥处理与对照无显著差异。虽然径流损失的磷最多也不足施磷量的 0 1% ;但径流中溶解磷浓度均已超过水体富营养化磷浓度的阈值 ( 0 0 2mgL-1) ,故农田径流携带的磷长期进入水体也会加重水体富营养化。径流携带的磷以产生第一次径流时为最多 ;径流磷中以颗粒磷为主占总磷的 6 0 %以上 ;溶解磷则在 4 0 %以下 ,而溶解磷中以有机磷为主 ,除P 30 0kghm-2 处理外 ,其余处理的径流中溶解有机磷占总溶解磷的 5 2 0 %～ 76 2 %之间。因此 ,仅测定溶解的无机磷作为溶解磷组分 ,必将低估径流溶解磷的数量及其贡献 ;施肥未增加当季径流中溶解有机磷的浓度     

Rainfall effects on erosion of earthworm casts and phosphorus transfers by water runoff

 We investigated whether, under a temperate climate and in a maize crop, earthworm casts could contribute to soil erosion and further favour the exportation of phosphorus by runoff waters. Recording of casts was made in compacted (wheel-tracks) and non-compacted inter-rows, for a 2-month period in spring. To assess the rainfall impact on cast evolution, half of the observation sites were protected against rain splash by a nylon mesh placed above the soil surface. The water runoff was collected and analysed for sediment contents and phosphorus concentration. The mean annual production of surface casts was calculated to be 34 kg (dry weight) year^–1 kg^–1 earthworm (fresh weight). Synchronization between cast erosion and rainfall events was shown under natural conditions (unprotected sites). The erosion rate was 4 times greater over rainy periods than dry ones, reaching 80% of cast numbers. It appeared that not the runoff effect but the splash effect, due to the kinetics of the drops, disrupted casts. Newly formed casts disappeared first, with the erosion rate decreasing twofold for casts more than 10 days old. Cast erosion and runoff, as well as worm casting activity, were greater under compacted sites than under non-compacted sites, indicating an influence of earthworms on soil erosion from compacted soils. The total phosphorus content was similar in casts and uningested soil (0.80 mg phosphorus g^–1). Potential phosphorus losses from cast erosion was calculated to reach 25–49 mg phosphorus m^–2 per rainfall event depending on soil compaction. The amounts of particulate phosphorus recovered in water runoff after each rainfall event varied from 1 mg to 11 mg phosphorus. These results are compared and discussed. Received: 20 October 1998     

乌梁素海和岱海的水-沉积物系统中有机磷分布特征

以乌梁素海和岱海2个不同类型湖泊为研究对象,系统探讨了2个湖泊上覆水和沉积物中有机磷（Or-P）的地球化学特征。结果表明,乌梁素海和岱海上覆水中溶解性有机磷（DOP）的含量范围分别为0.02～0.12mg·L^-1和0.01～0.03mg·L^-1,2个湖泊上覆水中DOP均占TDP的60%以上,是上覆水中TDP的重要组成部分和主要存在形态;乌梁素海和岱海沉积物中有机磷（Or-P）的平均含量分别为19.25～69.40mg·kg^-1和168.21～178.41mg·kg^-1;2个湖泊上覆水中DOP含量明显高于英格兰Tamar河口区,2个湖泊沉积物中Or-P的含量低于长江中下游浅水湖泊。据估算,乌梁素海和岱海上覆水中的DOP库分别达到12t和10t;这2个湖泊沉积物中Or-P的差异性反映了湖泊环境及生态类型对Or-P生物有效性的重要影响,揭示有机磷库是不容忽视的潜在生物有效磷源。     

Labile nitrogen,carbon, and phosphorus pools and nitrogen mineralization and immobilization rates at low temperatures in seasonally snow-covered soils

Surface mineral horizons from four ecosystems sampled in the northwestern Italian Alps were incubated at −3 and +3°C to simulate subnivial and early thaw period temperatures for a seasonally snow-covered area. The soil profiles at these sites represent extreme examples of management, grazed meadow (site M) and extensive grazing beneath larch (site L) or naturally disturbed by avalanche and colonized by alder (site A) and the expected forest climax vegetation beneath fir (site F). Changes in labile pools of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) were active at all sites at both temperatures during 14 days of laboratory incubation. Ammonium was the dominant inorganic form of total dissolved N (TDN), being equivalent to 1.8–9.8 g N m⁻² within the mineral horizon. Gross rates of ammonification were similar at the two temperatures but significantly (p<0.05) greater in soil from beneath fir than in the other three. Nitrification occurred in all soils and displayed a wide range in rates, from 2 to 85 mg N m⁻² day⁻¹, and was least in the two most acid soils, A and F. Immobilization of NH₄ ⁺ as microbial N was greater in the fir soil than in the other three. Also, the fir soil showed greatest gross ammonification and least accumulation of NO₃ ⁻ and greatest tendency to retain N. This high N retention capacity in the climax ecosystem contrasted with the managed systems characterized by higher nitrification rates and greater potential spring NO₃ ⁻ loss. Dissolved organic N ranged between 30 and 50% of the TDN, while dissolved organic P was greater than 70% of total dissolved P (TDP). The dissolved organic compounds were important components of the labile pool, in equilibrium with a large reserve of organic N, and may significantly contribute to the soil N availability at low temperatures.     

Phosphate solubilization potentials of soil Acinetobacter strains

Many phosphate solubilizing microorganisms (PSM) require external pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) for strong phosphorus (P) solubilization in vitro. The objective of this study was to isolate efficient and PQQ-independent PSM. A total of 21 PSM were isolated from the rhizosphere soil of wheat and maize grown in the pots. Acinetobacter strains were the only PQQ-independent and most effective solubilizers of tricalcium phosphate containing agar. The mean P dissolved in liquid cultures of Acinetobacter strains in a 5-day incubation ranged from 167 to 888 μg/ml P. The pH dropped to below 4.7 from 7.8 in six isolates, which produced gluconic acid in concentrations ranging between 27.5 and 37.5 mM. There was a linear regression between soluble P and gluconic acid concentrations in the bacterial cultures (P < 0.05; R ² = 0.59). Inoculation with Acinetobacter sp. WR922 significantly (P < 0.05) increased wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) P content by 27% at 15 days after emergence (DAE) and dry matter by 15% at 30 DAE compared to the control. The plant P content in inoculated plants at 30 DAE was linearly correlated with soluble P of the bacterial cultures (P < 0.05; R ² = 0.69). Gluconic acid production directly affected phosphate solubilization in vitro, which in turn influenced plant P content of inoculated plants in PQQ-independent P-solubilizing Acinetobacter strains.     

Response of soil constituents to freeze-thaw cycles in wetland soil solution

Soil freeze-thaw cycles in the winter-cold zone can substantially affect soil carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus cycling, and deserve special consideration in wetlands of cold climates. Semi-disturbed soil columns from three natural wetlands (Carex marsh, Carex marshy meadow and Calamagrostis wet grassland) and a soybean field that has been reclaimed from a wetland were exposed to seven freeze-thaw cycles. The freeze-thaw treatments were performed by incubating the soil columns at −10 °C for 1 d and at 5 °C for 7 d. The control columns were incubated at 5 °C for 8 d. After each freeze-thaw cycle, the soil solution was extracted by a solution extractor installed in each soil layer of the soil column, and was analyzed for dissolved organic carbon (DOC), NH₄⁺-N, NO₃⁻-N and total dissolved phosphorus (TDP). The results showed that freeze-thaw cycles could increase DOC, NH₄⁺-N and NO₃⁻-N concentrations in soil solutions, and decrease TDP concentrations. Moreover, the changes of DOC, NH₄⁺-N, NO₃⁻-N and TDP concentrations in soil solutions caused by freeze-thaw cycles were different in various sampling sites and soil layers. The increments of DOC concentrations caused by freeze-thaw cycles were greater in the wetland soil columns than in the soybean field soil columns. The increments of NH₄⁺-N concentrations caused by freeze-thaw cycles decreased with the increase of soil depth. The depth variation in the increments of NO₃⁻-N concentrations caused by freeze-thaw cycles in the wetland soil columns was different from that in the soybean field soil columns. The decrements of TDP concentrations caused by freeze-thaw cycles were greater in columns of Carex marsh and Carex marshy meadow than in columns of Calamagrostis wet grassland and the soybean field. The study results provide information on the timing of nutrient release related to freezing and thawing in natural versus agronomic soils, and have implications for the timing of nutrient application in farm fields in relation to water quality protection.     

Attenuation of Nitrogen,Phosphorus and <Emphasis Type="Italic">E. coli</Emphasis> Inputs from Pasture Runoff to Surface Waters by a Farm Wetland: the Importance of Wetland Shape and Residence Time

Water quantity and quality were monitored for 3 years in a 360-m-long wetland with riparian fences and plants in a pastoral dairy farming catchment. Concentrations of total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP) and Escherichia coli were 210–75,200 g N m⁻³, 12–58,200 g P m⁻³ and 2–20,000 most probable number (MPN)/100 ml, respectively. Average retentions (±standard error) for the wetland over 3 years were 5 ± 1%, 93 ± 13% and 65 ± 9% for TN, TP and E. coli, respectively. Retentions for nitrate–N, ammonium–N, filterable reactive P and particulate C were respectively −29 ± 5%, 32 ± 10%, −53 ± 24% and 96 ± 19%. Aerobic conditions within the wetland supported nitrification but not denitrification and it is likely that there was a high conversion rate from dissolved inputs of N and P in groundwater, to particulate N and P and refractory dissolved forms in the wetland. The wetland was notable for its capacity to promote the formation of particulate forms and retain them or to provide conditions suitable for retention (e.g. binding of phosphate to cations). Nitrogen retention was generally low because about 60% was in dissolved forms (DON and NO_X–N) that were not readily trapped or removed. Specific yields for N, P and E. coli were c. 10–11 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, 0.2 kg P ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ and ≤10⁹ MPN ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, respectively, and generally much less than ranges for typical dairy pasture catchments in New Zealand. Further mitigation of catchment runoff losses might be achieved if the upland wetland was coupled with a downslope wetland in which anoxic conditions would promote denitrification.     

Microbial community structure and functionality under peanut-based cropping systems in a sandy soil

Little information is available on soil microbial and biochemical properties, important for understanding nutrient cycling and organic matter dynamics, as affected by different peanut cropping systems and how they relate to soil functioning. Thus, we studied a Tifton loamy sand (fine-loamy, kaolinitic, thermic Plinthic Kandiudults) in Georgia, which is first in peanut production in USA, after 5 and 8 years under continuous cotton (Gossypium hirsutum, L) (CtCtCt), cotton–cotton–peanut (CtCtPt), corn (Zea mays L.)–peanut–cotton (CrPtCt), peanut–peanut–cotton (PtPtCt), and continuous peanut (PtPtPt). Soil organic carbon (OC) at 0–20 cm was already higher under PtPtPt (average, 8.7 g C kg⁻¹ soil), PtPtCt (average, 7.7 g C kg⁻¹ soil), and CrPtCt (average, 7.8 g C kg⁻¹ soil) compared with CtCtPt (average, 4.7 g C kg⁻¹ soil) and CtCtCt (average, 3.3 g C kg⁻¹ soil). Similarly, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, and phosphodiesterase as a group showed higher activities under PtPtPt, PtPtCt, and CrPtCt than under CtCtPt and CtCtCt. The activities of glycosidases (α-galactosidase, β-glucosidase, and β-glucosaminidase) as a group were more sensitive to the cropping systems than phosphastases and showed a distinctive cropping system separation as follows: PtPtPt = CrPtCt > PtPtCt > CtCtPt > CtCtCt. Similar to OC and microbial biomass C trends, distinctive differences were found in the microbial community structure of this sandy soil after 8 years between peanut-based cropping systems (CrPtCt, PtPtCt, and PtPtPt) and cotton-based cropping systems (CtCtCt and CtCtPt) as indicated by the fatty acid methyl esters profiles. Trade names and company names are included for the benefit of the reader and do not infer any endorsement or preferential treatment of the product by USDA-ARS.     

Enzyme activities in a limed agricultural soil

 This study assessed the effect of eight lime application rates, with four field replications, on the activities of 14 enzymes involved in C, N, P, and S cycling in soils. The enzymes were assayed at their optimal pH values. The soil used was a Kenyon loam located at the Northeast Research Center in Nashua, Iowa. Lime was applied in 1984 at rates ranging from 0 to 17,920 kg effective calcium carbonate equivalent (ha^–1), and surface samples (0–15 cm) were taken after 7 years. Results showed that organic C and N were not significantly affected by lime application, whereas the soil pH was increased from 4.9 to 6.9. The activities of the following enzymes were assayed: α- and β-glucosidases, α- and β-galactosidases, amidase, arylamidase, urease, l-glutaminase, l-asparaginase, l-aspartase, acid and alkaline phosphatases, phosphodiesterase, and arylsulfatase. With the exception of acid phosphatase, which was significantly (P<0.001) but negatively correlated with soil pH (r=–0.69), the activities of all the other enzymes were significantly (P<0.001)and positively correlated with soil pH, with r values ranging from 0.53 for the activity of α-galactosidase to 0.89 for alkaline phosphatase and phosphodiesterase. The Δ activity/Δ pH values ranged from 4.4 to 38.5 for the activities of the glycosidases, from 1.0 to 107 for amidohydrolases and arylamidase, 97 for alkaline phosphatase, 39.4 for phosphodiesterase, and 11.2 for arylsulfatase. This value for acid phosphatase was –35.0. The results support the view that soil pH is an important indicator of soil health and quality. Received: 3 May 1999