The potential use of soil enzymes as indicators of productivity, sustainability and pollution

Abstract

The use of soil enzyme activities as early and sensitive indicators of management-induced changes in soil fertility and stress is reviewed. Locations of enzymes in soil and the interpretation of enzyme activity measurements are discussed. Enzyme activity as an index of soil productivity or soil microbial activity is considered. The effects of management practices, pesticides and heavy metals on soil enzymes are reviewed. Oxidoreductases, transferases and hydrolases have been the most studied as potential indicators of productivity, sustainability and pollution. Indexes calculated by measurements of several enzyme activities have been used to compare different soils and various treatments on the same soil. The effect of heavy metals has been quantified by the Ecological Dose which represents the heavy metal concn at which the enzyme activity is half of the uninhibited value. This approach was not possible for pesticide-contaminated soils as treatment effects are observed.