Quantitative evaluation of exo-enzyme during composting

The extracellular enzymes produced during composting of urban and agricultural wastes were determined. The enzyme profile showed variation in abundance with change in substrate, decomposition stage and method of composting. Dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase were much higher in the agricultural compost where as cellulase and protease were more in amended city compost. Urease however, did not show any variation with change in substrate or method of composting. Most of the enzymes showed correlation with change in number of different microbial groups during composting. Phosphatase was inversely related to available phosphorus.