A comparison of soil enzyme activities in forest and tea (Camellia sinensis) plantation soil samples

Abstract

Soil-enzyme activities with respect to rhodanese, phosphatase, and cellulase of samples obtained from land under
tea [Camellia sinellsis (L.) O. Kuntze] cultivation and neighbouring forest land form 3 major tea growing areas of India
were evaluated in 1992. The study showed a decreasing trend in cellulase activity in the plantation samples of Assam
and Nilgiris compared with the forest samples of that region. Rhodanese activity in the Dooars region was higher in
plantation samples but lower in Assam and Nilgiri samples. For phosphatase, the samples from forest of Assam showed
a higher activity than the corresponding plantation samples of the region. In all others the phosphatase activity was
higher in the plantation samples. Organic carbon values did not appear to have any relationship with cellulase activity
detected in the samples. Grouping the samples on basis of yield oftea did not bring about any relationship between yield
of tea and enzyme activity pertaining to the enzymes evaluated.