Impact of temperature on the biological properties of soil

The aim of the study was to determine the response of soil microorganisms and enzymes to the temperature of soil. The effect of the temperatures: 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 degrees C on the biological properties of soil was investigated under laboratory conditions. The study was performed using four different soils differing in their granulometric composition. It was found that 15 degrees C was the optimal temperature for the development of microorganisms in soil. Typically, in the soil, the highest activity of dehydrogenases was observed at 10-15 degrees C, catalase and acid phosphatase - at 15 degrees C, alkaline phosphatase at 20 degrees C, urease and beta-glucosidase at 25 degrees C. The highest colony development index for heterotrophic bacteria was recorded in soils incubated at 25 degrees C, while for actinomycetes and fungi at 15 degrees C. The incubation temperature of soil only slightly changed the ecophysiological variety of the investigated groups of microorganisms. Therefore, the observed climate changes might have a limited impact on the soil microbiological activity, because of the high ability of microorganisms to adopt. The response of soil microorganisms and enzymes was more dependent on the soil granulometric composition, organic carbon, and total nitrogen than on its temperature.