This study was carried out using soil samples collected from a Podzol grown with orange trees, at Estação Experimental de Umbaúba, Umbaúba-SE (CPATC-EMBRAPA), to evaluate the acid and alkaline phosphatases activities from a coastal tableland soil submitted to different base saturation values (32, 45, 68 and 76.6%) and the relationships between soil characteristics and these activities. Positive responses to the increment of base saturation were observed for pH, organic matter content, available phosphorus and acid and alkaline phosphatases activities, in their respective optimum pH values of 6.5 and 11.0. The acid phosphatase activity was significantly and positively correlated with organic matter, calcium and magnesium contents. The response of alkaline phosphatase activity to the base saturation was correlated with pH, organic matter, calcium and magnesium contents and microbial biomass. Neither enzyme showed any relationship with available phosphorus content in the soil. However, it was observed that the activity of these enzymes was repressed by inorganic phosphorus when a high dose (124 µg mL-1 of P) of this nutrient was added to the reaction mixture during the analytical determination of enzymatic activity.
phosphomonoesterases; soil enzyme; mineralization; organic phosphorus; organic matter