Effect of rice straw application on hydrolytic enzyme activities in Chinese paddy soils

The cultivation of rice (Oryza sativa L.) produces large quantities of straw. Although the burning of straw is illegal it is a commonly used method of rice straw management in China, causing a series of problems. An alternative is the incorporation of rice straw into the soil. In this study different rice straw management practices were simulated in a microcosm experiment under controlled conditions in a climate chamber. The decomposition of incorporated straw and straw ash was determined by monitoring the hydrolysis of polysaccharides by extracellular enzyme activities. As a result, the actual hydrolytic activity, the cellulose-induced activity as well as the xylan-induced activity caused by rice straw decomposition indicate significant differences between two investigated soils of the regions Wujia and Jinjiaba (Jiangsu Province, China).