Aim <p>The catalytic reaction mediated by soil hydrolase is the rate-limiting step of soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition. The alteration in hydrolase activity in response to the external environment can be attributed to changes in the kinetic parameters: <i>V</i>_max (overall activity and quantity) and <i>K</i>_m (affinity of enzymes to substrates). The ratio of <i>V</i>_max to <i>K</i>_m is defined as catalytic efficiency, with higher ratios indicating higher SOM decomposition rates. However, our understanding of soil hydrolase kinetic parameters in response to nitrogen and phosphorus deposition is very limited.</p> Methods <p>The <i>V</i>_max, <i>K</i>_m, and <i>V</i>_max/<i>K</i>_m of four soil hydrolases (β-1,4-glucosidase; β-1,4-<i>N</i>-acetylglucosaminidase; acid phosphatase; and leucine aminopeptidase) were measured in temperate plantations after 10-year nitrogen and phosphorus treatments. Soil physical and chemical properties and microbial community composition were also investigated.</p> Results <p>The results showed that <i>V</i>_max was relatively stable with nutrient addition, and <i>V</i>_max/<i>K</i>_m decreased with the increase of <i>K</i>_m. In the absence of significant changes in microbial community composition, the shifts in kinetic parameters likely reflect adaptations in microbial resource allocation and pH regulation.</p> Conclusions <p>Nutrient addition suppresses the catalytic efficiency of hydrolases, indicating a decrease in their potential to decompose SOM. This suggests that microbial strategies for SOM utilization may shift under nutrient enrichment. Over the long term, such changes could reduce carbon loss in nitrogen-limited temperate plantation forests.</p>