<b>The responses of microbial extracellular enzyme activities to soil sample storage conditions across different soil types</b>

To address methodological uncertainties in sample storage conditions, this study evaluated the effects of three common storage conditions (-20 °C, air-drying, and freeze-drying) on hydrolytic and oxidative enzyme activities across a gradient of forest soil types (acidic, neutral, and alkaline). Our experimental design specifically focused on these storage conditions because they are most practical for large-scale, multi-site ecological studies where immediate processing or strict short-term refrigeration is often unfeasible.