Abstract: In this paper, a case study was carried out in the Ebinur Lake Basin to reveal the correlations between enzyme activities and physical and chemical properties of different soils in a desert in arid area. The results indicated that the physical and chemical properties were different from different soils, the soil properties of chernozem and chestnut soil were better than that of other soils types, and there was a regularity in vertical distribution of physical and chemical properties. Enzyme activities were different from different soils, there was no distinct descending of enzyme activities along the soil profiles except along chernozem profile. There was also a significant positive correlation among soil enzyme activities, which indicated that there were the mutual promotion and interactional relationship among soil enzyme activities. There was a very significant positive correlation between soil enzyme activities and soil organic matter content and total N content in soil, and a significant positive correlation or very significant positive correlation between soil enzyme activities and soil moisture content. There was a very significant negative correlation between some soil enzyme activities and soil pH value. In contrast, there were no significant correlations between soil enzyme activities and total salt content and available phosphorus content. The correlations between soil enzyme activities and soil physicalchemical properties were different from different soils, which indicated that the main soil physical and chemical factors affecting soil enzyme activities were different from different soils.

Key words: desert, soil type, enzyme activity, soil physical-chemical property, Ebinur Lake Basin