Acta Agrophysica , 2005 , 5 ( 3 ) , 555-565 SOIL AERATION STATUS AND CATALASE ACTIVITY

Ab s t rac t . Soil catalase activity was determined as a function of soil aeration status of an Orthic Luvisol in a pot experiment. Soil was compac ted to 1.2, 1.35 or 1.5 Mg m -3 bulk density and water content was maintained in the readily availab le range for plants (pF 2.2-2.9). Three levels of soil hypoxia were applied by raising soil water con tent to pF 1.3-1.7 and pF 0 (flooding). Soil aeration properties (air filled porosity – Eg; oxyg en diffusion rate – ODR, redox potential – Eh; content of reduced iron [Fe ]), as influenced by combined effects of water pote ntial and compaction level, showed significant interrelationship s. Soil catalase activity was found to be depressed under hypoxic conditions by an average of 16% only. Among the properties tested, ODR and Eh best described the relationship between soil oxygen status and catalase activity. Ke ywo rd s : soil aeration, catalase activity, soil hypoxia

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