Enzyme activity of litter and soil and its effect on litter decomposition under different combinations of Cunninghamia lanceolata and Michelia macclurei
By mixing thoroughly litters of Cunninghamia lanceolata and Michelia macclurel from acid rain region in different propor-tions ( A 1:0,B 0:1,C 1:1,D 1:2,E 2:1) , litter decomposition rate and enzyme activity of litter and topsoil were measured. The results showed that after 300-day decomposition, decomposition rates of litters in different proportions increased as follows: B (27.93%)>D(25.99%)>E(24.55%)>C(21.78%)>A(21.07%), and enzyme activities of litters were always higher than those of topsoil. The cellulose activity of litters peaked on day 180 and hit bottom on day 300, while there was no obvious tendency in the variations of other enzyme activities. The enzyme activity of topsoil varied significantly during decomposition period, with acid phos-phatase minimizing on day 120 and peaking on day 300. Cellulose and sucrose activities decreased along decomposition time, and reached the lowest level on day 300. The litter decomposition rate was positively correlated with litter polyphenol oxidase and acid phosphatase activity, and negatively correlated with cellulase activity and sucrase activity in both litter and topsoil.