JOURNAL of Soil Biology and Ecology

Abundance of soil mesofauna in the soil and litter associated with Bt cotton compared to non-Bt crops.

Author:N.G. KUMAR, P. NIRMALA, T.G. AVINASH AND SALEEM SAKHIDAD

Abstract :

The present field experiment, with potential implications for agricultural practices, focused on the effect of different Bt cotton varieties on the soil and litter mesofauna in the farmer's fields around Chamarajnagar, Southern Karnataka, India. The mean abundance of soil mesofauna varied from 9.00(PCH888 Bt) to 116.67 (tank bed soil) mesofauna /400 g soil. However, the mean litter mesofauna ranged from 13.00(PCH 888) to 40.67 (Mahyco 7351Bt) mesofauna /400 g litter. The undisturbed tank bed soil possessed significantly higher soil mesofauna (116.67 mesofauna /400 g soil) and was on par with the long-term cropping system, viz., Areca nut soil (71.00 mesofauna /400 g soil). However, the latter ecosystem was on par with the litter of Mahyco-7351 Bt (40.67 mesofauna /400 g). The mesofauna abundance in the litter of Mahyco-7351Bt showed no difference with natural forest litter, maize soil, suraj non-Bt litter, sugarcane field soil, Suraj non-Bt soil, MRC-7351Bt litter, Mahyco-7351Bt soil, PCH-888Bt litter and natural forest soil. However, MRC-7351 Bt soil registered significantly least mesofauna (8.67 mesofauna /400g). However, it was on par with the rest of the treatments except Tank bed soil, areca nut garden soil and Mahyco-7351 Bt litter.

Key words: Bt cotton, Non-Bt cotton, Litter and soil mesofauna, Traditional crops.

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