Examination of the possible phosphorus limitation in decomposition of soil organic matter in Japanese forest soils

为了考察日本森林土壤有机质分解中磷限制的可能性，我们确定了土壤微生物是否受到磷的限制。土壤中磷酸单酯酶和磷酸二酯酶活性均与土壤速效P/微生物量碳比值呈显著负相关。此外，磷的添加显著提高了低pH土壤中脱氢酶的活性。这些结果表明土壤微生物对磷的限制，从而暗示日本森林土壤有机质的分解可能受到磷的限制。

To examine the possibility of phosphorus limitation in decomposition of soil organic matter in Japanese forest soils, we determined whether the soil microorganisms are limited by phosphorus. Both phosphomonoesterase and phosphodiesterase activities showed significant negative correlations with available P/microbial biomass C ratio in the soils. Also, phosphorus addition significantly increased dehydrogenase activity in low-pH soils. These results indicate the phosphorus limitation in soil microorganisms, and, therefore, imply that decomposition of soil organic matter may be limited by phosphorus in Japanese forest soils.