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Soil Enzymes in Relation to Old Field Succession: Amylase, Cellulase, Invertase, Dehydrogenase, and Urease¹

ABSTRACT

Amylase, cellulase, invertase, dehydrogenase, and urease activities in soil were determined every other month for a year in two old-field successional stages and a climax stand in each of three vegetation types; tall grass prairie, post oak-blackjack oak forest and oak-pine forest. The activities of amylase, cellulase, and invertase were highest generally in the first successional stage, intermediate in the second stage, and lowest in the climax stand. On the other hand, dehydrogenase and urease activities were generally lowest in the first successional stage, intermediate in the second stage, and highest in the climax. These trends were observed in all three vegetation types throughout the year. No correlation was found between soil enzymatic activity and amount of organic matter or soil pH. The type of vegetation and thus the type of organic matter added to the soil during succession seem to be the chief determiners of the activity gradients of the enzymes under study.

¹ This project was done under Grant GB-22859 from the National Science Foundation.

² Post Doctoral Research Associate and Professor, respectively, Dep. of Botany and Microbiology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73069.

Received for publication July 19, 1972. Accepted for publication September 5, 1972.