The biological activities of β-glucosidase, phosphatase and urease as soil quality indicators: a review

Soil is a fundamental resource and it is crucial to manage its quality in order to enhance agricultural productivity and environmental quality. Soil enzymes catalyze several biochemical reactions which result in the transformation of organic matter, and the release of inorganic nutrients for plant growth and nutrient cycling. Soil enzyme activities are useful biological soil quality indicators since they are operationally practical, very sensitive, integrative, easy to measure and more responsive to soil tillage and structure than other soil variables. There are several enzymes in soil, but those involved in hydrolases and the degradation of main litter components are used most often for evaluating soil quality. This paper reviews the roles of soil enzymes such as beta-glucosidase, phosphatase and urease, as well as the implications of their activities for soil quality.