Abstract
Twenty samples each of nornal and satine soils were taken.
Their physico-chemical properties, total bacterial count and enzyme
activity was determined. The enzymes studied were cellulase, invertase
and dehydrogenase. lt was foun that higher concentrations of
soluble salts decreased nitrogen and carbon contents, Enzyme
activity decreased gradually with increasing salinity and at Ee level
of 38.01 mmbojcm all the cnzymssemployed in this study were
inactive. Bacterial counts also showed a declining trend with inc-
rease in salinity. The decline ineazyms activity and bacterial count ;
aposared to be associated with a ciange in osmotic potential of the |
soil water phase, specific ion toxicities and a salting out effect of
soluble saits on enzyme proteia.