The responses of microbial extracellular enzyme activities to soil sample storage conditions across different soil types

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.