[Biological and enzymatic activities in salt-affected soils from Alto Valle de Río Negro and Neuquén]

Changes in the biological activity (number of bacteria g(-1) and CO2 production) and in the enzymatic activity (catalase, deshydrogenase, urease and phosphotriesterase) caused by the leaching of five soils affected by salts have been studied. The leaching decreased the electric conductivity (CE) and modified the type of dominant salts in the soils. Production of CO2 and the activity of the phosphotriesterase was significantly higher (p<0.05) in a leached soil (Torrifluventes Typical Centennial); the increment were 88% and 71%, respectively. The results showed that the decrease of the salinity by leaching did not produce significantly different results in most of the biotic parameters analysed.