Vol. 7, Issue 11 (2018)

Author(s):
D Sriniva, Saroja Raman and PC Rao

Abstract:
Physico-chemical properties of soil have a profound influence on soil enzyme acid and alkaline phosphatases activity. The distribution of acid and alkaline phosphatases and the influence of physico-chemical properties on these soil enzymes was assessed in twenty-two soil samples belong to vertisols of the state of Andhra Pradesh. These samples were analysed for the physicochemical properties like pH, EC, available nutrients, texture and organic carbon and soil enzyme activity was assayed. Acid phosphatase activity of the soil expressed as µg of 4-nitrophenol released g^-1 soil h^-1 ranged from 27.3 to 129.3 with an average value of 74.1. Similarly, the alkaline phosphatase varied from 90.2 to 498.7 with a mean value of 206.7 µg of 4-nitrophenol g^-1 soil h -1. The pH of vertisols ranged from 7.6 to 8.7, electrical conductivity from 0.06 to 0.36 dSm^-1 and organic carbon from 2.9 to 7.8 g kg^-1. The available Nitrogen varied from 123 to 267 kg ha^-1. The available P status in the soils varied from 14 to 48 kg ha^-1. The available K ranged from 159 to 732 kg ha^-1. Acid phosphatase was significantly and positively correlated with organic carbon (r = 0.56**) and available P (r = 0.68**). Similarly, Alkaline phosphatase was significantly and positively correlated with organic carbon (r = 0.61**) and available P (r = 0.56**). Both the phosphatases did not show any significant correlation either with silt, clay and pH.