Hydrolase activity as an indicator of the state of microbial communities in vermicomposts

• Published in: Moscow University soil science bulletin Vol. 64; no. 2; pp. 93 - 98
• Main Authors: Yakushev, A. V, Byzov, B. A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Heidelberg : Allerton Press, Inc 01.06.2009; Allerton Press, Inc; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aporrectodea caliginosa; Bacteria; Composting; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Eisenia fetida; Fungi; Historical Geology; Hydrologic analysis; Paleontology; Soil sciences; bacteria; fungi; Vermicomposts; fluorescein diacetate assay
• ISSN: 0147-6874; 1934-7928
• DOI: 10.3103/S0147687409020082

The hydrolase activity was studied using the fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolysis assay in order to assess the microbial activity in composts and vermicomposts obtained with participation of Eisenia fetida andrei, Aporrectodea caliginosa, and A. rosea earthworms from cattle manure, leaves, and peat. The hydrolase activity (the Michaelis--Menten constant, K m ) was found to be lower in the vermicomposts than in the composts and correlated with a corresponding decrease in the length of fungal hyphae. The determination of the hydrolase activity according to the reaction of FDA hydrolysis may be recommended to control the process of vermicomposting and the quality of vermicomposts. Thus, the process of vermicomposting may be characterized with the use of the functional (hydrolase activity) and structural (microbial biomass, length of fungal hyphae) approaches.