Contents About the editors i Preface iii Acknowledgements v Abbreviations vii CHAPTER 1 Enzymes and their functions in soil and groundwater 1 1.1 Introduction 1 1.2 Types and sources 3 1.2.1 Types 3 1.2.2 Sources 4 1.3 Kinetics, functions and influencing factors 5 1.3.1 Enzyme kinetics 5 1.3.2 Functions of enzymes 7 1.3.3 Influencing factors of enzyme activities 13 1.4 Methods for visualizing enzyme activities: in situ zymography 21 1.4.1 Introduction 21 1.4.2 Materials and methods 24 1.4.3 Procedures 27 1.4.4 Combination with other visualization techniques 30 1.5 Enzymes and their relations with environmental researches 35 1.5.1 Effluent treatment and detoxification 36 1.5.2 Bioindicators for pollution monitoring 40 1.5.3 Biosensors 46 1.6 Conclusion 51 Main References 52 CHAPTER 2 Global climate change and enzyme activities 62 2.1 Global climate change and its mutual effects with the environment 62 2.1.1 Overview of global climate change 62 2.1.2 Impacts of global climate change 63 2.1.3 Feedback of soil and groundwater environment to global climate change 70 2.1.4 Summary and outlook 72 2.2 Temperature sensitivity of enzyme activities 74 2.2.1 Introduction 74 2.2.2 Temperature sensitivity of soil enzymes 76 2.2.3 Response of substrate affinity to temperature 79 2.2.4 Catalytic efficiency of enzymes as affected by temperature 82 2.2.5 Summary 84 Main References 84 CHAPTER 3 Response of enzyme activities to manure applications 90 3.1 Impact of manure on soil biochemical properties: a global synthesis 90 3.1.1 Introduction 90 3.1.2 Nutrient composition of manure and its effects on soil properties 92 3.1.3 Effects of manure application on enzyme activities 100 3.1.4 Soil pH and its influence on the manuring effect 109 3.1.5 Effects of soil, climate, management and manure-related factors on the soil biochemical properties 111 3.1.6 Summary 114 3.2 Spatiotemporal patterns of enzyme activities after manure application reflect mechanisms of niche differentiation between plants and microorganisms 115 3.2.1 Introduction 115 3.2.2 Temporal response of enzyme activities to manure application strategy 117 3.2.3 Spatial response of enzyme activities to manure application strategies 124 3.2.4 Response of plants to manure application strategies 126 3.2.5 Summary 129 Main References 130 CHAPTER 4 Response of enzyme activities to metal/ nanometal oxide 140 4.1 Effects of nanometal oxides on enzyme activity 140 4.1.1 Introduction 140 4.1.2 Overview of nanometal oxides 141 4.1.3 Effect of ENOPs on enzyme activity 142 4.1.4 Major pathways to affect enzyme activities 142 4.1.5 Main regulators of enzyme activity 148 4.1.6 Summary and outlook 150 4.2 Effect of exogenous lead contamination on microbial enzyme activity in purple soil 151 4.2.1 Introduction 151 4.2.2 Change in content of available lead 153 4.2.3 Sensitivity of enzyme activity to lead contamination 155 4.2.4 Dose-effect relationship between enzyme activity and lead concentration 157 4.2.5 Summary 157 4.3 Toxicity of nano-CuO particles to maize and microbial community largely depends on its bioavailable fractions 158 4.3.1 Introduction 158 4.3.2 Response of plants to nano-CuO and CuSO4 160 4.3.3 Response of microbial community compositions to nano-CuO and CuSO4 164 4.3.4 Responses of enzyme activities on the rhizoplane to nano-CuO and CuSO4 166 4.3.5 Agricultural implications 172 4.3.6 Summary 172 4.4 Influences of nano-ZnO particles on plant and microbes grown in Pb-contaminated soil 172 4.4.1 Impact of ZnO nanoparticles on soil lead bioavailability and microbial properties 172 4.4.2 Effects of nano ZnO addition on metal morphology and plant growth in lead-contaminated soil 187 4.4.3 Summary 196 4.5 Effects of acid rain on heavy metal release and enzyme activity in contaminated soil 198 4.5.1 Introduction 198 4.5.2 Effect of dynamic simulated acid rain on Cr(VI) release characteristics and enzyme activity in contaminated soil 200 4.5.3 Effect of dynamic simulated acid rain on the release characteristics and enzyme activity of Pb in contaminated soil 208 4.5.4 Summary 216 Main References 218 CHAPTER 5 Effect of biomass-based materials on enzyme activities in heavy metal- contaminated environment 229 5.1 Spatial-temporal distribution of enzyme activities in heavy metal-contaminated soil after application of organic fertilizers 229 5.1.1 Introduction 229 5.1.2 Impact of organic amendments on soil acidification 231 5.1.3 Impact of organic amendments on plant characteristics 234 5.1.4 Cr concentration and speciation in soil 236 5.1.5 Impact of organic amendments on enzyme activities and their extent 240 5.1.6 Summary 244 5.2 Passivation and stabilization mechanism of calcium-based magnetic biochar on soil Cr(VI) and its bioavailability 245 5.2.1 Introduction 245 5.2.2 Characterization of calcium-based magnetic biochar materials 250 5.2.3 Passivation and stabilization of Cr(VI)-contaminated soil with calcium-based magnetic biochar 254 5.2.4 Effects of calcium-based magnetic biochar’s passivation and stabilization on soil microbial activity 268 5.2.5 Effects of passivation and stabilization of calcium-based magnetic biochar on plant growth 282 5.2.6 Summary 288 5.3 Immobilization and stabilization of lead-polluted soil by green tea biochar supported with nZVI 290 5.3.1 Introduction 290 5.3.2 Preparation and characterization of green tea biochar- loaded nZVI 294 5.3.3 Study on lead-contaminated soil solidified and stabilized by green tea biochar-loaded nZVI 302 5.3.4 Effects of green tea biochar loaded nZVI on plants and soil microorganisms 309 5.3.5 Summary 318 5.4 Effects of biochar slow-release nitrogen fertilizer on microbial community and plant growth in copper- contaminated soil 320 5.4.1 Introduction 320 5.4.2 Preparation and characterization of biochar slow-release nitrogen fertilizer 323 5.4.3 Effects of biochar slow-release nitrogen fertilizer on microbial communities in copper-contaminated soil 328 5.4.4 Effects of biochar slow-release nitrogen fertilizer on plant growth and rhizosphere enzyme activity characteristics in copper- contaminated soil 343 5.4.5 Summary 357 Main References 359 Chapter 6 Enzyme activities in the rhizosphere of soil and groundwater 373 6.1 Nutrient availability and relationships with enzyme activities in the rhizosphere 373 6.1.1 Introduction 373 6.1.2 Soil biochemical and biological factors in the rhizosphere vs. in bulk soil 376 6.1.3 Effects of climatic factors and original soil properties on available nutrients in the rhizosphere 380 6.1.4 Acidity and alkalinity neutralization in the rhizosphere modulates nutrient availability 383 6.1.5 Nutrient depletion and accumulation in the rhizosphere 386 6.1.6 Nutrient availability within the rhizosphere is mediated by plant and root characteristics 387 6.1.7 Microbial activities and community shift in the rhizosphere 389 6.1.8 Summary 391 6.2 Response mechanism of soil enzymes in plant rhizosphere to heavy metal pollution 392 6.2.1 Introduction 392 6.2.2 Enzyme activity in rhizosphere soil and its main influencing factors 393 6.2.3 Research progress in response of soil enzymes in plant rhizosphere to heavy metal pollution 397 6.2.4 Main influencing mechanism of heavy metals on enzyme activity in rhizosphere soil 400 6.2.5 Summary 402 Main References 403 Final remarks 414