A study was conducted to demonstrate the comparative efficiency of acid pho
sphatase generated by plants or fungi towards the hydrolysis of different o
rganic P compounds present in soil. The results revealed that acid phosphat
ases were most efficient in the hydrolysis of glycerophosphate followed by
lecithin and phytin. The P release increased with increase in enzyme concen
tration. Acid phosphatase generated from fungal sources showed three times
greater efficiency in the hydrolysis of phytin, two times greater efficienc
y in hydrolysis of lecithin than plant phosphatase. Both sources were at pa
r in hydrolyzing glycerophosphate. The results suggest that acid phosphatas
e generated from plant and fungal sources is different and microbial acid p
hosphatase to be more efficient than that from plant sources.