The soil microbial activity data from intensive sampling in site A in 2011. Activities of four hydrolytic enzymes involved in breakdown of cellulose (β-glucosidase), xylan(ß-xylosidase), chitin (N-acetyl-glucosaminidase) and polyphosphate (acid phosphatase) were measured by using methylumbelliferone substrate. Another two oxidative enzymes (phenol oxidase and peroxidase) which related to lignin degradation, their activities were analyzed by using substrate 3,3',5,5'-tetra:methyl-benzidine. The enzyme activities were measured on the plate reader (SynergyTM HT, Biotek) in xingangshan field lab.

Within each plot, three random trees of each tree species were selected for taking soil samples. For each targeted tree, we used soil core (10cm depth, diameter 6cm) took soils at four directions of the target tree on a distance of around 50cm from the tree trunk. Four soil cores of samples were homogenised and pooled into one sample in a plastic bag which represented the targeted tree. Soil samples were immediately sieved (2mm) in the field and preserved with liquid nitrogen.

Site A, Xingangshan

Soil samples were taken between October and November in 2011 in site A. Soil samples were freeze dried in the field lab andmeasured in the field lab after sampling campaign.

Enzyme activity was computed as µmol substrate converted per hour per g dry organic matter of sample