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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Wind Erosion and Water Conservation Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #297575
Title: Soil Enzyme Activities as Affected by Manure Types, Application Rates and Management Practices

Author
item Acosta-Martinez, Veronica
item Waldrip, Heidi

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/9/2013
Publication Date: 4/30/2014
Citation: Acosta Martinez, V., Waldrip, H. 2014. Soil enzyme activities as affected by manure types, application rates and management practices. In: He, Z. and Zhang, H., editors. Applied Manure and Nutrient Chemistry for Sustainable Agriculture and Environment. New York, NY: Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht. p. 99-122.

Interpretive Summary: The application of manure can restore soil ecosystem services related to nutrient cycling and soil organic matter (SOM) dynamics through biochemical transformations mediated by soil enzymes. Enzyme activities are very crucial in soil metabolic functioning as they drive the decomposition of organic residues, humification process, release of plant available nutrients, transformation of nitrogen compounds including N2 fixation, nitrification and denitrification, stabilization of soil structure and degradation of xenobiotic (foreign or strange) compounds. However, despite the fact that there is an exhaustive amount of literature available on the effects of manure on soil enzyme activities, there is no comprehensive overview of recent research findings that compare different management scenarios, manure types, and potentially new manure products on soil enzyme activities. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a review of the response of enzyme activities to manure applications and implications on biogeochemical cycling in agroecosystems. Additionally, this chapter intends to provide our perspective of areas where more research is needed and provide avenues for future research.

Technical Abstract: The application of manure can restore soil ecosystem services related to nutrient cycling and soil organic matter (SOM) dynamics through biochemical transformations mediated by soil enzymes. Enzyme activities are very crucial in soil metabolic functioning as they drive the decomposition of organic residues, humification process, release of plant available nutrients, transformation of nitrogen compounds including N2 fixation, nitrification and denitrification, stabilization of soil structure and degradation of xenobiotic (foreign or strange) compounds. However, despite the fact that there is an exhaustive amount of literature available on the effects of manure on soil enzyme activities, there is no comprehensive overview of recent research findings that compare different management scenarios, manure types, and potentially new manure products on soil enzyme activities. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a review of the response of enzyme activities to manure applications and implications on biogeochemical cycling in agroecosystems. Additionally, this chapter intends to provide our perspective of areas where more research is needed and provide avenues for future research.