Biochemical Reactivity in Forest Soils as Indicators for Environmental Pollution

Abstract

In order to get a picture about the state of the physiology of the soil, we measure the activity of four soil enzymes and the rate of nitrification with respect to different substrates. The four enzymes are from four different areas of metabolism: beta-glucosidase, phosphatase, phosphodiesterase and aminopeptidase. The activities of these enzymes are a) measured in the presence of either buffer or water ( = soil solution) and b) determined in the three upper horizons of the soils: in the organic top layer (L and H-Hori zon, if present) and the two next horizons in the mineral soil (usually Ah and the following) down to a depth of about 30-50 cm. Both patterns of enzyme acitivities can be used for an evaluation of the physiological state of the soil.