Effects of temperature and moisture on urease activity in semi-arid tropical soils

Sahrawat, K L (1984) Effects of temperature and moisture on urease activity in semi-arid tropical soils. Plant and Soil, 78 (3). pp. 401-408.

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Abstract

Studies of urease activity in an Indian Vertisol and Alfisol using both buffer (THAM pH 9.0) and non-buffer methods for assay of the urease activity showed that activity increased with increase in temperature from 10°C to a maximum at 60°C (Vertisol) and 70°C (Alfisol). Further increase in temperature decreased urease activity which was nearly totally inhibited at 100°C. Urease activity was not detected in soil samples collected in late summer when the soil moisture content was far below — 15 bar pressure. Urease activity increased with increase in moisture content up to field capacity and remained constant with further increase in moisture content. The relevance of these findings to the ICRISAT improved management practices for Vertisols, which involve seeding of crops into dry soil just before the onset of rains is discussed.

Item Type:	Article
Divisions:	UNSPECIFIED
CRP:	UNSPECIFIED
Subjects:	Others > Climate Change
Depositing User:	Mr Charan Sai Ch
Date Deposited:	31 Oct 2011 06:31
Last Modified:	31 Oct 2011 06:31
URI:	http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/3391
Official URL:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02450373
Projects:	UNSPECIFIED
Funders:	UNSPECIFIED
Acknowledgement:	UNSPECIFIED
Links:	Author

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