Effects of Rhizosphere Ventilation on Soil Enzyme Activities of Potted Tomato under Different Soil Water Stress

In order to improve the growing environment of root zone, and investigate the effects of different rhizosphere ventilation environments on soil enzyme activities, we supplied gas for potted tomato by air compressor, and set three irrigation levels (7090% field capacity). Each irrigation level has different ventilation volume coefficient (0.4, 0.8, 1.2, and 1.6) with the reference standard as 50% soil porosity. The results showed that the changing trend of soil catalase, urease, and dehydrogenase activity showed the first increase and then the decrease in the tomato growth period, and activities of soil catalase, urease, and dehydrogenase under the ventilation treatment are higher than those of the non-ventilation. When the irrigation level was 80% the field capacity and the ventilation coefficient was 0.8, the activities of three soil enzyme reached the highest value. Their activities of soil catalase, urease, and dehydrogenase were particularly sensitive to rhizosphere ventilation in fruit expanding process. Tomato had more dry matter accumulation and output under the ventilation treatment than that of the non-ventilation. The results prove that rhizosphere ventilation can improve the potted tomato root zone environment, increase the soil enzyme activity, and promote the nutrients uptake, thus promoting plant growth and fruit output and improving soil quality.