Impact of Different Forest Management System on Phosphomonoesterases Activity in Forested Utilsol Soil.

The Impact of Soil Compaction on Soil Chemical Properties and Phosphodiesterase Activity in Long-Term Research Sites for Pine Stand Management

Compaction due to traffic and organic cover are major components of forest management systems and affect carbon sequestration and nutrient cycling which are microbial mediated. The phosphatases are the major enzyme systems involved in phosphorus transformation in soil have also been shown to correlate very well with soil organic matter. The impact of soil compaction of compaction and organic residues on phosphatase activity was investigated as part of a long-term study on effect of compaction on soil physical and chemical characteristics at the Desoto National Forest, Chickasawhay, Mississippi. This study area consisted of a randomized complete block experimental design with nine treatments per block. The treatments had three levels each of compaction and organic matter removal as well as either all vegetation (V_A) allowed or only pines (V_P) allowed. Soil samples were collected with a specially designed soil augers that were manually drilled into the soil beyond 30 cm dept. Soil sampled partition into three layers of 10cm each, (0-10; 10-20 and 20-30 cm). The samples were transported to the Environmental Quality Laboratory for physical, (Bulk density), chemical (Soil pH, carbon, phosphorus and nitrogen) and biochemical (phosphatases). Phosphomonoesterase (Acid and Alkaline) and phosphodiesterase activities were measured on the 0-10 cm samples using methods described by Tabatabi and Bremner, 1969 and Dick et al.,1996 respectively. Results showed a significant effect of vegetation type on phosphomonoesterase activity (p> 0.002), while level of compaction affected significantly the phosphodiesterase activity (p>0.001).