Soil enzymatic activity in deteriorated forest ecosystems in the operation area of the Pulawy S.A. Nitrogen Factory

The present research (1998-1999) was carried out to evaluate soil enzymatic activity in the deteriorated forest ecosystems within the operation range of the Puławy S.A. Nitrogen Factory. Investigation covered podzolic soils from strong and medium forest pollution zones. Objects from the Pulawy Forest Inspectoratejwere represented, i.e. samples from the Puławy district (Inspectorate Wronów) and Żyrzyn district (Inspectorate Zagórki). The obtained results indicate high degree of soil environment deterioration in the investigated forest habitats, in the form suppressed enzymatic activity and deformation of chemical properties. A significant increase in the enzymatic soil activity with the increasing distance from the nitrogen factory was observed. Changes in the activity of soil enzymes were related to the soil chemical properties.