EN
In concurrent with global warming, precipitation regimes are predicted to change as well around the world. In this study, two experimental sites were selected with different nutrient availability along a slope to study the effects of simulated increased precipitation on soil β-glucosidase activities in an Inner Mongolian grassland. Soil samples were adjusted to 55% of water holding capacity and incubated at 22°C in the dark for 32 days. Soil β-glucosidase activities were measured prior to and after the incubation. Results showed that soil β-glucosidase activities had differential responses to increased precipitation with a significant increase in the downslope site, but not in the upslope site. Correlation analysis showed that the initial soil β-glucosidase activities exerted a significantly negative relationship with soluble organic nitrogen (N). Our results indicated that both water availability and soil soluble N availability played important roles in regulating β-glucosidase activities in this semiarid region.