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

为了研究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。磷酸单酯酶和磷酸二酯酶活性与土壤有效磷/微生物生物量碳比值呈显著负相关。此外，磷添加显着增加脱氢酶活性在低pH值的土壤。这些结果表明，磷限制在土壤微生物，因此，意味着土壤有机质的分解可能是有限的磷在日本森林土壤。

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.