Vertical Dynamics of Soil Enzyme Activities and Active Organic Carbon in a Freshwater Marsh in Sanjiang Plain, Northeast China

Abstract

To understand the influence of vertical dynamics of soil enzyme activities on the active carbon pool in Calamagrostis angustifolia wetland, the vertical distribution in 0-30cm depth of soil cellulase and amylase activities and active organic carbon fractions (microbial biomass carbon /MBC, easily oxidizable carbon/EOC) were measured and the relationship between soil enzyme activities and active organic carbon were analyzed. The results show that the enzyme activities and EOC and MBC contents in topsoil are the greatest. The soil cellulase and amylase activities and EOC and MBC contents show descending trends from surface layer to 30cm. The soil enzyme activities are significantly positive related to EOC and MBC contents. Therefore, with the increase of soil depth, the activities of cellulase and amylase obviously affect the soil active carbon pool. Furthermore, the cellulase activity of marsh soil has the strongest influence on soil active carbon pool.