Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Urease Activity in Various Agro-ecological Sub-regions of Black Soil Regions of India

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A study was undertaken in the established benchmark soil series in different agro-ecological sub-regions of Black Soil Regions of India with the objective to assess the urease activity as a function of soil depth, bio-climate, cropping system and land use type. The urease activity declined with increase in soil depth. Maximum activity was restricted within 0–30 cm of soil depth. Cropping systems and bio-climates significantly (p < 0.01) influenced the urease activity in soil. The average urease activity in different bio-climates was in decreasing order viz. sub-humid (moist) > sub-humid (dry) > semi-arid (dry) > arid. The activity in different cropping systems was in decreasing order viz. legume- > sugarcane- > cereals- > cotton-based cropping system. Higher urease activity was observed in irrigated agro-systems as compared to the rainfed agricultural systems. High management practices increased urease activity as compared to low management. In physical properties, urease activity was negatively correlated with sand, fine clay, bulk density and available water content. Electrical conductivity, calcium carbonate and cation exchange capacity showed negative correlation in chemical properties at all the soil depths.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Fließbach A, Oberholzer HR, Gunst L, Mader P (2007) Soil organic matter and biological soil quality indicators after 21 years of organic and conventional farming. Agric Ecosyst Environ 118:273–284

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Rao DLN, Ghai SK (1985) Urease and dehydrogenase activity of alkali and reclaimed soils. Aust J Soil Res 23:661–665

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Tabatabai MA (1994) Soil enzymes. In: Weaver RW, Angle JS, Bottomley PS (eds) Methods of soil analysis. Part 2. Microbiological and biological properties, 2nd edn. Soil Science Society of America, Madison, pp 775–833

    Google Scholar 

  4. Bremner JM, Mulvaney RL (1978) Urease activity in soils. In: Burns RG (ed) Soil enzymes. Academic Press, New York, pp 149–196

    Google Scholar 

  5. O’Tool P, Morgan MA, McGarry SJ (1985) A comparative study of urease activities in pasture and tillage soils. Commun Soil Sci Plant Anal 16:733–759

    Google Scholar 

  6. Cookson P, Lepiece GL (1996) Urease enzyme activity of soils of Batinah region of Sultanate of Oman. J Arid Environ 32:225–238

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Kiss S, Dracan-Bularda M, Radulesu D (1975) Biological significance of enzymes accumulated in soil. Adv Agron 27:25–87

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Li CR, Xu JW, Song HY, Li CY, Zheng L, Wang WD, Wang YH (2006) Soil enzyme activities in different plantations in lowlands of the Yellow River Delta, China. Acta Phytoecol Sin (in chinese) 30:802–809

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Viraj B, Brar SS (1978) Urease activity in subtropical alkaline soils of India. Soil Sci 126:6

    Google Scholar 

  10. Chakrabarti K, Sinha N, Chakraborty A, Bhattacharyya P (2004) Influence of soil properties on urease activity under different agro-ecosystems. Arch Agron Soil Sci 50:477–483

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Reddy UR, Reddy SM (2008) Urease activity in soil as influenced by integrated nutrient management in tomato–onion cropping system. Asian J Soil Sci 3:30–32

    Google Scholar 

  12. Velayutham M, Mandal DK, Mandal C, Sehgal J (1999) Agroecological subregion of India for planning and development. NBSS Publication 35. NBSS and LUP, Nagpur, p 372

    Google Scholar 

  13. Bhattacharyya T, Pal DK, Chandran P, Ray SK, Durge SL, Mandal C, Telpande B (2007) Available K reserve of two major crop growing regions (alluvial and shrink-swell soils) in India. Indian J Fertil 3:41–46

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Jackson ML (1979) Soil chemical analysis—an advance course. Department of Soil Science, University of Wisconsin, Madison, p 895

    Google Scholar 

  15. McIntyre DS, Loveday J (1974) Bulk density. In: Loveday J (ed) Methods for analysis of irrigated soils. Technical Communication No. 54. Commonwealth Bureau of Soils, Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau, Farnham Royal, pp 38–42

  16. Klute A, Dirksen C (1986) Hydraulic conductivity diffusivity: laboratory methods. In: Klute A (ed) Methods of soil analysis, Part 1, Monograph No. 9. ASA, Madison, pp 687–734

  17. Richards LA (1954) Diagnosis and improvement of saline and alkali soils. USDA Agriculture Handbook 60, Washington, DC

  18. Jackson ML (1973) Soil chemical analysis. Prentice-Hall of India Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, pp 38–204

    Google Scholar 

  19. Allen ON (1959) Experiments in soil bacteriology. Burgess Publishing, Minneapolis

    Google Scholar 

  20. Martin JP (1950) Use of acid rose Bengal and streptomycin in the plate method for estimating soil fungi. Soil Sci 69:215–232

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Tabatabai MA, Bremner JM (1972) Assay of urease activity in soils. Soil Biol Biochem 4:479–487

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Soil Survey Staff (2003) Keys to soil taxonomy. United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Services, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  23. Tabatabai MA (1977) Effects of trace elements on urease activity in soils. Soil Biol Biochem 9:9–13

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Zaman M, Cameron KC, Di HJ, Inubushi K (2002) Changes in mineral N, microbial and enzyme activities in different soil depths after applications of dairy shed effluent and chemical fertilizer. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 63:275–290

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Imamura A, Yumoto T, Yanai J (2006) Urease activity in soil as a factor affecting the succession of ammonia fungi. J For Res 11:131–135

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Ramesh V, Wani SP, Rego TJ, Sharma KL, Bhattacharyya T, Sahrawat KL, Padmaja KV, Gangadhar Rao D, Venkateswarlu B, Vanaja M, Manna MC, Srinivas K, Maruthi V (2007) Chemical Characterization of selected benchmark spots for C sequestration in the Semi-Arid Tropics, India. Global Theme on Agroecosytems Report no. 32. ICRISAT and ICAR, Patancheru

  27. Zantua MI, Dumenil LC, Bremner JB (1977) Relationships between soil urease activity and other soil properties. Soil Sci Soc Am J 41:350–352

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Yadav DS, Kumar V, Singh M, Relan PS (1987) Effect of temperature and moisture on kinetics of urea hydrolysis and nitrification. Aust J Soil Res 25:185–191

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Cabrera ML, Kissel DE, Bock BR (1991) Urea hydrolysis in soil: effects of urea concentration and soil pH. Soil Biol Biochem 23:1121–1124

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Wang WJ, Smith CJ, Chen D (2004) Predicting soil nitrogen mineralization dynamics with a modified double exponential model. Soil Sci Soc Am J 68:1256–1265

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Frey SD, Elliott ET, Paustian K (1999) Bacterial and fungal abundance and biomass in conventional and no-tillage agroecosystems along two climatic gradients. Soil Biol Biochem 31:573–585

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Dormaar JF, Johnston A, Smoliak A (1984) Seasonal changes in carbon content, and dehydrogenase, phosphatase, and urease activities in mixed prairie and fescue grassland Ah horizons. J Range Manag 37:31–35

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Sardans J, Peňuelas J (2005) Drought decreases soil enzyme activity in a Mediterranean Quercus ilex L. forest. Soil Biol Biochem 37:455–461

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Sall CN, Chotte JL (2002) Phosphatase and urease activities in a tropical sandy soil as affected by soil water-holding capacity and assay conditions. Commun Soil Sci Plant Anal 33:3745–3755

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Hamid M, Rahman KU, Sheikh MA, Basra SMA (2004) Effect of substrate concentrations, temperature and cropping system on hydrolysis of urea in soils. Int J Agric Biol 6:964–966

    Google Scholar 

  36. Verstraeten LMJ (1978) Interaction between urease activity and soil characteristics. Soil Sci Agrochem 22:455–464

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Paula C, Alejandra AJ, Rolando D, de la María LM (2009) Urease activity and nitrogen mineralization kinetics as affected by temperature and urea input rate in southern Chilean andisols. J Soil Sci Plant Nutr 9:69–82

    Google Scholar 

  38. Khan SU (1970) Enzymatic activity in a gray wooded soil as influenced by cropping systems and fertilizers. Soil Biol Biochem 2:137–139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Wani SP, Jangawad LS, Eswaran H, Singh P (2003) Improved management of Vertisols in the semi-arid tropics for increased productivity and soil carbon sequestration. Soil Use Manag 19:217–222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Speir TW, Lee R, Pansier EA, Cairns A (1980) A comparison of sulphatase, urease and protease activity in plant and fallow soils. Soil Biol Biochem 12:281–291

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Klose S, Tabatabai MA (2000) Urease activity of microbial biomass in soil as affected by cropping system. Biol Fertil Soils 31:191–199

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Nourbakhsh F, Monreal CM (2006) Urease activity as affected by cultivation and soil depth: a kinetic approach. Agrochimica 50:72–76

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Reddy TP, Padmaja G, Chandrasekhar RP (2011) Integrated effect of vermicompost and nitrogen fertilisers on soil urease enzyme activity and yield of onion–radish cropping system. Indian J Agric Sci 45:2

    Google Scholar 

  44. Bergstrom DW, Monreal CM, Tomlin AD, Miller JJ (2000) Interpretation of soil enzyme activities in a comparison of tillage practices along a topographic and textural gradient. Can J Soil Sci 80:71–79

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Nautiyal CS, Puneet S, Chittranjan C, Bhatia R (2010) Changes in soil physico-chemical properties and microbial functional diversity due to 14 years of conversion of grassland to organic agriculture in semi-arid agroecosystem. Soil Tillage Res 109:55–60

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Jastrzębska E, Kucharski J (2007) Dehydrogenases, urease and phosphatases activities of soil contaminated with fungicides. Plant Soil Environ 53:51–57

    Google Scholar 

  47. Garcia C, Hernandez T, Costa F (1994) Microbial activity in soils under Mediterranean environmental conditions. Soil Biol Biochem 26:1185–1191

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Görres JH, Dichiaro MJ, Lyons JB, Amador JA (1998) Spatial and temporal patterns of soil biological activity in a forest and an old field. Soil Biol Biochem 30:219–230

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Banerjee MR, Burton DL, McCaughery WPP, Grant CA (2000) Influence of pasture management on soil biological quality. J Range Manag 53:127–133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Smith JL, Halvorson JJ, Bolton H Jr (2002) Soil properties and microbial activity across a 500 m elevation gradient in a semi-arid environment. Soil Biol Biochem 34:1749–1757

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Deng SP, Tabatabai MA (1997) Effect of tillage and residue management on enzyme activities in soils. III. Phosphatases and arylsulfatase. Biol Fertil Soils 24:141–146

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Wang XC, Lu Q (2006) Beta-glucosidase activity in paddy soils of the Taihu Lake region, China. Pedosphere 16:118–124

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Fawaz KM, El Halfawi MH, El Wakil EM (1981) Studies on soil urease enzyme presence and distribution in Egyptian soils. Alex J Agric Res 29:345–350

    Google Scholar 

  54. Frankenberger WT Jr, Dick WA (1983) Relationship between enzyme activities and microbial growth and activity indices in soil. Soil Sci Soc Am J 47:945–951

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Reynolds CM, Wolf DC, Armbruster JA (1985) Factors related to urea hydrolysis in soils. Soil Sci Soc Am J 49:104–108

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This financial grant received from the World Bank sponsored “National Agricultural Innovation Project” (NAIP) (Component-4: Indian Council of Agricultural Research) on “Georeferenced Soil Information System for Land Use Planning and Monitoring Soil and Land Quality for Agriculture” is gratefully acknowledged. The authors are thankful to the Directors, CICR and NBSS and LUP for extending facilities to carry out this research work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India

    Kulandaivelu Velmourougane, M. V. Venugopalan & Apeksha Sahu

  2. National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India

    T. Bhattacharyya, Dipak Sarkar, D. K. Pal, P. Chandran, S. K. Ray, Champa Mandal, Jagdish Prasad & Pramod Tiwary

  3. Regional Centre, National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

    K. M. Nair

  4. Regional Centre, National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India

    R. S. Singh

Authors
  1. Kulandaivelu Velmourougane
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. V. Venugopalan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. T. Bhattacharyya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Dipak Sarkar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. D. K. Pal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Apeksha Sahu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. P. Chandran
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. S. K. Ray
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Champa Mandal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. K. M. Nair
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Jagdish Prasad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. R. S. Singh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. Pramod Tiwary
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kulandaivelu Velmourougane.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Velmourougane, K., Venugopalan, M.V., Bhattacharyya, T. et al. Urease Activity in Various Agro-ecological Sub-regions of Black Soil Regions of India. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., India, Sect. B Biol. Sci. 83, 513–524 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40011-013-0162-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40011-013-0162-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation