JOURNAL of Soil Biology and Ecology

Effect of Bt cotton litter and squares on soil collembolan, formicid, and non-acarine mesofauna abundance.

Author:

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

Abstract:

This experiment examined the impact of four BGII Bt cotton varieties (Mahadev BGII, MRC-6918 BGII, MRC-7351 BGII, and Sumo BGII) and one non-Bt variety (Suraj) on soil mesofauna, focusing on collembola, ants, and non-acarine mesofauna in an undisturbed natural grassland. Soil and litter mesofauna showed variable preferences among the different Bt cotton varieties. Specifically, average soil mesofauna abundance per 100 grams was lowest in Sumo Bt squares (299.33) and highest in MRC-7351 Bt litter (4948.67). Entomobryid collembola populations per 100 grams ranged from 0.00, observed in Sumo Bt squares and silver oak leaves, to a maximum of 40.00 in Suraj non-Bt squares. Podurid collembolans were observed only in the Mahadev litter (4.33 per 100 grams). Ant abundance per 100 grams was lowest in Sumo Bt squares (1.33) and highest in MRC- 6918 squares (23.67). Non-acarine soil mesofauna per 100 grams were most abundant in Sumo Bt squares (293.67) and least abundant in MRC-6918 squares (1.00).

Key words: Ants, BG II Bt cotton, Entomobryidae, Litter and soil mesofauna, Poduridae

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