title: Comparison and standardization of soil enzyme assay for meaningful data interpretation.
abstract: Data interpretation and comparison in enzyme assays can be challenging because of the complex nature of the environment and variations in methods employed. This letter provides an overview of common enzyme assays, the need for methods standardization, and solutions addressing some of the concerns in microplate fluorimetric assay approaches.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA. Electronic address: shiping.deng@okstate.edu.
authors.forename: Shiping
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dick
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.affiliation: Institute of Soil Science and Land Evaluation, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart D-70593, Germany.
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kandeler
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43606, USA.
authors.forename: Michael N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Weintraub
mesh_terms: D057075:Enzyme Assays / Q000592:standards*; D005470:Fluorometry; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D012987:Soil
keywords: 4-Methylumbelliferone; Bench-scale chromogenic assay; Method standardization; Microplate fluorometric assay; Soil enzyme; p-Nitrophenol