ENZYME-ACTIVITIES IN APPALACHIAN SOILS .1. ARYLSULFATASE

Sulfatase enzymes in soil play an important role in transformation of organic forms of S into inorganic forms of plant available S. Aryl-sulfatase (AS) activities in fourteen hill and soils of the Appalachian region were assayed. Magnitude of AS activities were related to selected soil properties. The top two horizons from each of the soils were sampled during early spring, passed through a 2 mm sieve, and stored under field moist conditions at 4-degrees-C. Each soil type has its own level of AS activity. The average enzyme activities of surface samples were more than 2.4 times higher than those of subsurface horizons. The AS activities were positively correlated with organic C, N, forms of S and P, original soil moisture by weight and volume, and basic cations. Knowledge of the relationship between enzyme activities and soil properties should contribute to the development of fertility management systems for the hill-land soils of the Appalachian region.