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Soil Enzyme Activities as Affected by Manure Types, Application Rates, and Management Practices

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Applied Manure and Nutrient Chemistry for Sustainable Agriculture and Environment

Abstract

Manure application can restore soil ecosystem services related to nutrient cycling and soil organic matter (SOM) dynamics through biochemical transformations mediated by soil enzymes. Soil enzymes are crucial in soil metabolic functioning, as they drive the decomposition of organic residues, humification processes, transformations leading to the release of plant available nutrients, 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 compares different management scenarios, manure types, and potentially new manure products or management. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a review of the response of enzyme activities to manure applications and their potential implications on soil biogeochemical cycling in agroecosystems. Additionally, this chapter intends to provide some perspective on specific areas where more information is warranted and pinpoint avenues for future research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. USDA-ARS, Cropping Systems Research Laboratory, Lubbock, TX, 79415, USA

    Veronica Acosta-Martínez

  2. USDA-ARS, Conservation and Production Research Laboratory, Bushland, TX, 79012, USA

    Heidi M. Waldrip

Authors
  1. Veronica Acosta-Martínez
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  2. Heidi M. Waldrip
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Correspondence to Veronica Acosta-Martínez .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Southern Regional Research Center, USDA-ARS, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

    Zhongqi He

  2. Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA

    Hailin Zhang

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Acosta-Martínez, V., Waldrip, H.M. (2014). Soil Enzyme Activities as Affected by Manure Types, Application Rates, and Management Practices. In: He, Z., Zhang, H. (eds) Applied Manure and Nutrient Chemistry for Sustainable Agriculture and Environment. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8807-6_6

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