Changes in soil enzyme activities following additions of cyanobacterial biomass and exopolysaccharide

The aim of this research was to establish changes in the overall activity o f extracellular enzymes: beta -glucosidase, phosphomonoesterase, arylsulpha tase, protease and urease and the intracellular enzyme dehydrogenase produc ed by the addition of Tolypothrix tenuis and Micro -chaete tenera (Cyanobac teria) exopolysaccharide (EPS) and biomass to a silty clay loam soil. Both biomass and EPS of M, tenera significantly (p < 0.05) increased <beta>-gluc osidase activity by 0.1 and 29.3%, respectively. Both cyanobacteria species significantly (p < 0.05) increased urease activity by 15 +/- 1%. Cyanobact erial biomass and EPS from T. tenuis and hi. tenera produced significant in creases in protease (76-90%, 101-136%), phosphomonoesterase (19-27%, 13-22% ), arylsulphatase (148-167%, 406-174%) and dehydrogenase activity (16-32%, 43-30%). (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.