JOURNAL of Soil Biology and Ecology

Do various agrochemicals exert comparable effects on the abundance of cryptostigmatid mites within grassland soil ecosystem.

Author: 

ABDUL QAHAR QARLUQ

Abstract:

The study thoroughly examined the effects of various agrochemicals on soil cryptostigmatids in an undisturbed grassland habitat, focusing on insecticides (phorate, carbofuran, chlorpyrifos), an acaricide (dicofol), a fungicide (carbendazim), neem cake, and water-soluble fertilizers applied at a rate of 50:40:25 kg NPK per hectare. Results showed a reduced population of Cryptostigmata in plots treated with carbofuran (461.98/m²) and carbendazim (461.98/m²), followed by dicofol (520.96/m²), fertilizers (520.96/m²), phorate (589.76/m²), chlorpyrifos (579.93/m²), and neem cake (678.23/m²). Overall, these agrochemicals led to a decrease of less than 50% in soil cryptostigmatids compared to the untreated control (1022.25/m²). The most significant reduction (100%) was observed with chlorpyrifos, while dicofol-treated plots exhibited a 24% increase in population at 10 days after treatment (10 DAT), highlighting the diverse impacts of these chemicals. Plots where neem cake and carbendazim were applied showed a negative population throughout the period of the experiment.

Key Words: Acaricide, Cryptostimata, Fertilizers, Fungicide, Insecticide, Neemcake

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