ABSTRACT
Soil enzymes are an important class of enzymes. They regulate several vital biochemical and physiological reactions of soil microflora that help in maintaining soil health. One of the important functions of soil enzymes is the regulation of nutrients, including mobilization and decay of organic matter in the soil. Soil enzymes are also industrially important for their wide-scale use. Soil enzymes with desired properties can be produced in a large amount by optimizing fermentation conditions. Soil enzymes are a diverse range of enzymes that are industrially important for the development of varied products, including vitamins, antibiotics, and cosmetics. These include enzymes such as laccase, esterase, dehydrogenase, peroxidase, and esterase. These soil enzymes are also potential candidates for the degradation of toxic and xenobiotic compounds from the environment. The present chapter focuses on the application of soil enzymes for industrial purposes and factors affecting their production.
