Journal of SOIL BIOLOGY and ECOLOGY

Abundance of soil and litter Collembola in forest plantations

Authors: SALEEM SAKHIDAD AND N.G. KUMAR

Abstract:

The litter and soil Collembola play a significant role in the complex process of organic matter decomposition, nutrient cycling and to improve the fertility status. Variation in abundance of Collembola was observed in the litter and soil samples of different forest plantation during 2014 and 2015. Maximum population was noticed in December samples compared to early October month during the year2014. Maximum abundance was noticed in Artocarpus heterophyllus soil samples and Tectona grandis litter collected in the month of December2014. Maximum abundance was noticed in Terminalia arjuna soil samples and T. arjuna litter collected in the month of January 2015. The present observation on soil and litter Collembola in well established 35 years old forest plantations revealed the variation in different plantations. The variation in Collembola composition may be due to quality of tree litter fallen on the floor, diversity of flora at the tree base, relative abundance of other mesofauna, soil moisture content and temperature. The suitable time for sampling of Collembola in T.grandis , T.arjuna , Albizia odoratissima and A.heterophyllus was December, January, late October and December month, respectively.

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