Summary
Changes in the content of C, N, P, and S in the soil biomass and in phosphatase, urease, protease, deaminase, and arylsulphatase activity, induced by amendment with municipal solid-waste compost, were determined in a clay loam soil during 1 year of incubation at 25° and 35°C.
In the unenriched soil (control) decreasing trends in biomass C, biomass N, and biomass S were observed at both temperatures. In the enriched soil, these values increased, reaching a maximum after 1 month. Biomass P, probably due to a slower process of P immobilization, showed different trends. Alkaline phosphomonoesterase, phosphodiesterase, and deaminase activity remained constant after reaching maximum values (3–5 months). Arylsulphatase, urease, and protease activity tended to return to baseline after reaching a maximum (2–3 months).
Atrazine, though applied at a dose that was 10 times higher than the recommended field rate, did not modify the chemical and biochemical properties of either the control or the enriched soil.
Significant positive and negative correlations between changes in biomass values and changes in enzyme activity were found. The negative correlations are attributed to the delay in the enzymatic response compared with the changes in microbial biomass.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bonde TA, Schnurer J, Rosswall T (1988) Microbial biomass as a fraction of potentially mineralizable nitrogen in soils from long-term field experiments. Soil Biol Biochem 20:447–452
Brookes PC, Powlson DS, Jenkinson DS (1982) Measurement of microbial biomass phosphorus in soil. Soil Biol Biochem 14:319–329
Brookes PC, Heijen CE, McGrath SP, Vance ED (1986) Soil microbial biomass estimates in soils contaminated with metals. Soil Biol Biochem 18:383–388
Browman MG, Tabatabai MA (1978) Phosphodiesterase activity of soils. Soil Sci Soc Am J 42:284–290
Chapman SJ (1987) Microbial sulphur in some Scottish soils. Soil Biol Biochem 19:301–305
DeBBertoldi M, Ferranti MP, L'Hermite P, Zucconi F (1987) Compost: Production, quality and use. Proc Symp Commission of the European Communities. Elsevier Applied Science, London New York
Eivazi P, Tabatabai MA (1977) Thosphatases in soils. Soil Biol Biochem 9:167–172
Gallardo-Lara F, Nogales R (1987) Effect of the application of town refuse compost on the soil-plant system: A review. Biol Wastes 19:35–62
Giusquiani PL, Perucci P (1988) Chemical properties and phosphatase activity in a clay loam soil amended with municipal waste compost. Proc Int Symp Humus et Planta IX, Prague, pp 62
Hedley MJ, Stewart JWB (1982) Method to measure microbial phosphate in soils. Soil Biol Biochem 14:377–385
Jenkinson DS, Ladd JN (1981) Microbial biomass in soil: Measurement and turnover. In: Paul EA, Ladd JN (eds) Soil biochemistry, vol 5. Dekker, New York, p 415–471
Killham K, Rashid MA (1986) Assay of activity of a soil deaminase. Plant and Soil 92:15–21
Ladd JN, Butler JHA (1972) Short-term assays of soil proteolitic enzyme activities using proteins and dipeptide derivates as substrates. Soil Biol Biochem 4:19–30
Nannipieri P, Pedrazzini F, Arcara PG, Piovanelli C (1979) Changes in amino acids, enzyme activities and biomasses during soil microbial growth. Soil Sci 127:26–34
Perucci P, Scarponi L, Monotti M (1988) Interference with soil phosphatase activity by maize herbicidal treatment and incorporation of maize residues. Biol Fertil Soils 6:286–291
Ritz K, Robinson D (1988) Temporal variations in soil microbial biomass C and N under spring barley crop. Soil Biol Biochem 20:625–630
Robertson K, Schnurer J, Clarholm M, Bonde TA, Rosswall T (1988) Microbial biomass in relation to C and N mineralization during laboratory incubations. Soil Biol Biochem 20:281–286
Saggar S, Bettany JR, Stewart JWB (1981) Measurement of microbial sulphur in soil. Soil Biol Biochem 13:493–498
Shen SM, Pruden G, Jenkinson DS (1984) Mineralization and immobilization of nitrogen in fumigated soil and the measurement of microbial biomass nitrogen. Soil Biol Biochem 16:437–444
Società Italiana Scienza del Suolo (1985) Metodi normalizzati di analisi del suolo. Edagricole, Bologna
Sokal RR, Rholf JF (1981) Multiway analysis of variance. In: Emerson R, Kennedy D, Park RB (eds) Biometry: The principles and practice of statistics of biological research, 2nd edn. Freeman, San Francisco
Sparling GP (1985) The soil biomass. In: Vaughan D, Malcolm RE (eds) Soil organic matter and biological activity. Martinus Nijhoff/W Junk, Dordrecht Boston Lancaster, pp 223–262
Somerville L, Greaves MP, Domsch KH, Verstraete W, Poole NJ, van Dijk H, Anderson JPE (1987) Recommended laboratory tests for assessing the side effects of pesticides on soil microflora. In: Sommerville L, Greaves MP (eds) Pesticide effects on soil microflora. Taylor & Francis, London New York Philadelphia, pp 205–219
Tabatabai MA, Bremner JM (1970) Arylsulphatase activity of soils. Soil Sci Soc Am Proc 37: 707–710
Tyler G (1975) Heavy metal pollution and soil enzymatic activity. Plant and Soil 41:303–311
West AW, Ross DJ, Cowling JC (1986) Changes in microbial C, N, P and ATP contents, numbers and respiration on storage of soil. Soil Biol Biochem 18:141–148
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Perucci, P. Effect of the addition of municipal solid-waste compost on microbial biomass and enzyme activities in soil. Biol Fertil Soils 10, 221–226 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00336141
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00336141