Improved effectiveness and efficiency in measuring soil enzymes as universal soil quality indicators using microplate fluorimetry

► Enzyme activity by spectophotometry ranged from 0 to 56.04 nmol-pNP g−1 min−1. ► Fluorimetry revealed lower values from 0 to 6.22 nmol-MUB g−1 dry soil min−1. ► Fluorimetry revealed enzymatic changes among parcels with low soil heterogeneity. ► The use of enzymes as soil quality indicators is improved by microplate fluorimetry.