Effect of Soil Management Practices on Soil Enzyme Activities

RASHMI C. M.1 AND PRADEEP2

Ph.D Scholar, Dept of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry

University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bengaluru, Karnataka -560065.

Introduction
Soil enzymes are the mediators of the most biochemical processes that are
critical for soil functioning such as organic matter decomposition, nutrients
mobilization and elements cycling. Enzyme activities are sensitive to the soil
management practices such as tillage, fertilization and cropping. Generally, soil
management practices alters important soil characteristics that may directly or
indirectly affect the activities of soil enzymes i.e. soil pH, moisture, organic matter
content, nutrient availability and the composition of the microbial community. Studies
of microbial biomass carbon, nitrogen and enzyme activities provide information on
the biochemical processes occurring in the soil and there is growing evidence that soil
biological parameters may have a potential as early and sensitive indicators of changes
in soil health.

Functions of enzymes in soil

Enzymes play key biochemical functions in the overall process of organic
matter decomposition in the soil system and are important in catalyzing several vital
reactions necessary for,
 Life processes of micro-organisms in soils.
 Stabilization of soil structure.
 Organic matter formation.
 Nutrient cycling.

Importance of soil enzymes

Release of nutrients into the soil by means of organic matter decomposition.
Identification of microbial activity.
As sensitive indicators of ecological change.

Enzymes are considered as useful indicators of soil quality, because they are
1. Closely related to soil organic matter, soil physical properties and microbial
activity
2. Changes much sooner than other parameters, thus providing early indications
of changes in soil health
3. Involve simple procedures for determination of their activity
Important enzymes involved in SOM dynamics and nutrient cycling are as follows

1. Glucosidase
2. Galactosidase
3. Glucosaminidase
4. Aspartase
5. Asparginase

Effect of soil management practices on soil enzyme activities

Soil management practices are those practices which are followed by the
farmers to conserve the soil resources, they are as follows
Crop rotation
Long term fertilization
Conservation practices
Application of soil amendments
Pesticide application
Tillage and cultivation etc,
The factors affecting the enzyme activity are listed below:

1. Substrate concentration:
The activity of an enzyme also increases with the increase in substrate
concentration. If the substrate concentration increases, then the availability of the
active site would decrease. This will affect the activity of an enzyme and limit the
reaction rate.

2. pH
Each enzyme has its optimal pH in which they work. For example pepsin and
trypsin work on acidic pH. The enzymes are globular proteinaceous structure, form by
the interaction of the hydrogen bond between the side chains of the protein. Any
change in the cause deionization of side chain which results in the denaturation of the
enzyme.

3. Temperature:
Each enzyme works on its optimal temperature. Any alteration in temperature
affects the activity of an enzyme, and it also leads to denaturation of an enzyme.

4. Enzyme cofactor and coenzyme:

Each enzyme requires cofactors (inorganic ion or protein organic molecules)
for their work. The non-availability of these cofactors decreases the activity of an
enzyme.

5. Enzyme inhibitors:
The inhibitors of an enzyme bind to the active site which affects the activity of
an enzyme.
CONCLUSION
Among the soil management practices crop cover, tillage method and residue
management leads to significant changes in the soil physico-chemical and biological
properties and thus, affect the composition, distribution and the activities of the soil
microbial communities and the production of enzymes. So, better soil management
practices plays a prominent role in maintaining soil health.

REFERENCES

GOWDA, R. C., VEERANAGAPPA, P.,HANUMANTHAPPA, D. C. AND

MUNESHWAR SINGH, 2017, Soil enzyme activities, microbial diversity and
available nutrients status of an alfisol under long term fertilization.
Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci., 6(5): 1483-1491.

JI, B., HU, H., ZHAO, Y., MU, X., LIU, K. AND LI, C., 2014, Effects of deep tillage
and straw returning on soil microorganism and enzyme activities. Sci. World
J.,01-12.