Agricultural and Ecological Significance of Soil Enzymes: Soil Carbon Sequestration and Nutrient Cycling

Abstract

Agricultural and ecological significance of soil enzymes have been progressively expanded since the first report on soil enzymes about a century ago. In terms of soil carbon and nutrient sequestration and nutrient cycling, several classes of oxidative and hydrolytic enzymes have been acknowledged as indicators or predictors of organic carbon decomposition and nutrient mineralization. This chapter highlights the current knowledge on soil enzymes that can be used to learn about soil carbon and nutrient processes, principles by which microbial community may regulate the production and thus the activity of soil enzymes, and implications that are likely relevant to ecosystem responses to management and global climate change.