Impact of Cartap hydrochloride on soil enzyme activities

P. Lizy Sravanthi, T. Madhuri

Abstract

Soil enzymes play a vital role in catalyzing several important reactions necessary for life processes of microorganisms in soil. Soil enzymes play an important role in catalyzing reactions for the decomposition of organic matter and nutrient recycling in ecosystems. Microorganisms are the producers of enzyme activities in soil. Cartaphydrochloride, thiocarbamate insecticide, was assessed for its effect on Protease and Urease enzymes in soil at different concentrations of pesticide for definite period of incubation. Protease activity in soil samples treated with low concentrations (5, 10 and 25 ppm) of Cartap hydrochloride showed a tendency of recovery and gradually decreased with incubation period. Urease activity in treated and control soil samples during different days of incubation period was observed to be less than that of control throughout the incubation period.