Premium
Microbial Biomass and Soil Enzyme Activities in Compacted and Rehabilitated Skid Trail Soils
Author(s) -
Dick R. P.,
Myrold D. D.,
Kerle E. A.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1988.03615995005200020038x
Subject(s) - loam , arylsulfatase , soil water , zoology , chemistry , enzyme assay , biomass (ecology) , agronomy , environmental science , enzyme , soil science , biology , biochemistry
Microbial biomass C and soil enzyme activities (dehydrogenase, phosphatase, arylsulfatase, and amidase) were measured in soil profiles of a silty clay loam from a 4‐yr‐old clearcut located in west‐central Oregon. The treatments that were imposed after logging were: (i) control (uncompacted soil) (CONT), (ii) compacted skid trail (COMP), (iii) subsoiled skid trail (SB), and (iv) subsoiled and disked skid trail (SD). In the 10‐ to 20‐cm depth, the COMP soil of the skid trail had significantly lower biomass C (38% decrease) and lower enzyme activities for all the enzymes assayed (decreases ranging from 41–75%) than the CONT. The SD treatment significantly increased biomass C, phosphatase activity, and total N content over the COMP treatment at depths from 10 to 60 cm. Both the SD and SB treatments restored the biological activities, organic C concentrations, and total N concentrations to levels that were equal to the CONT at depths from 10 to 60 cm. Significant positive correlations ( P < 0.05) were found among enzyme activities, organic C content, and total N content, whereas bulk density had significant negative correlations ( P < 0.05) with enzyme activities, biomass C, organic C, and total N. Biomass C showed a significant positive correlation ( P < 0.05) with enzyme activities (except amidase).