This study investigated the effects of nitrogen (N) fertilization and bioenergy crop species (switchgrass and gamagrass) on soil glycosidase activities. A three-year field experiment was conducted, and soil samples were collected using a spatially explicit design. Four glycosidases (α-glucosidase, β-glucosidase, β-xylosidase, and cellobiohydrolase) were quantified. Results showed significant interactive effects of N fertilization and crop type on β-xylosidase, with low and high N inputs significantly enhancing its activity in switchgrass. Gamagrass showed higher glycosidase activities than switchgrass except for α-glucosidase. Within-plot variances of glycosidases were higher in switchgrass. Spatial patterns were more evident in fertilized plots. The study suggests that N fertilization elevated central tendency and spatial heterogeneity of glycosidase activities, but these effects varied with crop and enzyme types.

Min Yuan, Jianjun Duan, Jianwei Li, Siyang Jian, Lahiru Gamage, Kudjo E. Dzantor, Dafeng Hui, Philip A. Fay