Comparison and Standardization of Soil Enzyme Assay Methods to Support Meaningful Data Interpretation.

Activities of soil enzymes are often assayed in the evaluation of ecosystem functions. Although most assay methods are fairly straight forward, caution must be exercised in selecting an appropriate method pertinent to research objectives, and for valid and meaningful data comparison.  Data interpretation and integration can be challenging because of the complex nature of the system and differences in methodology from study to study.  Standardization of methodology and assay conditions is of paramount importance to support meaningful data interpretation, especially for comparison across systems and different studies.  This presentation will provide a comprehensive overview of commonly used assay methods, principles of detection, factors affecting assays, choice of methods relevant to objectives, as well as challenges and potentials in data interpretation.