Distribution of exogenous phytase activity in soil solid–liquid phases and their effect on soil organic P hydrolysis

Abstract The bioavailability and stability of organic phosphorus (P) in the soil may be affected by exogenous phytase (EPase) activity and distribution, but remain poorly understood. The distribution of EPase activity and hydrolysis ability of EPase on organic P in soil solid‐liquid phases was investigated. The EPase addition to soil suspension (1:20, w/v) from three soil types (red soil, brown soil, and cinnamon soil) under three treatments (untreated soil, removing clay from soil, and removing organic matter from soil) with different characters in the solution and solid phases was assayed. The results showed that the disappearance pattern of EPase activity from solution was similar for all soils, whereas the enzyme activity on the solid phase was dependent on soil types and treatments with the greatest in red soil and untreated soil. When EPase was added to soils, the adsorption ratio of organic matter and clay was 10 to 25% and 3 to 7%, respectively, with sorption capacity of organic matter being significantly ( p < 0.05) stronger than that of clay. Additionally, soil dehydrogenase activity, which is the indicator of overall soil microbial activities, increased after EPase addition and the two enzymes showed significant negative relation in the soil suspension and solution. At the same time, the organic P decreased significantly ( p < 0.05) after the addition of EPase in the soil solid, which had a varied rate under –40% after incubating 192 h, whereas organic P in the solution phase increased significantly ( p < 0.05). This study demonstrated that organic matter had a strong protective and adsorptive effect on EPase effectiveness and microbes mightbe directly affect EPase longevity and decay. This finding suggests that EPase activity in the solid phase played a more important role in organic P hydrolysis.