JOURNAL of Soil Biology and Ecology

Effect of surface application of termiticides on the abundance of Collembola in grassland ecosystem

Author : T.G. AVINASH

Abstract :

The present investigation on the effect of termiticides usage on non-target soil organisms was carried out in the Botanical Garden, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK Bangalore. After a single application, the impact of insecticides clothianidin 7.5 CS @ 0.025 %, imidacloprid 17.8 SL @ 0.10 %, buprofezin 25 SC @ 0.075%, propargite 57 EC @ 0.10 %, fipronil 5 SC @ 0.075 %, bifenthrin 8 EC @ 0.05 %, chlorpyriphos 20 EC @ 0.10% on a non-target organism was studied over six months and was compared with untreated control. The observed taxa included Collembola, Cryptostigmata, Other acari, and other invertebrates. Termiticides affected the abundance of non-target organisms significantly. The toxicity of insecticides to total invertebrates was more with chlorpyriphos treatment, which was on par with the imidacloprid. Ten days after treatment, a maximum reduction in total mesofauna was noticed in clothianidin-treated plots. However, on par with chlorpyriphos, propargite, and imidacloprid treatments. The application of chlorpyriphos was significantly more toxic to Collembola, on par with bifenthrin, imidacloprid, and clothianidin. Imidacloprid, fipronil, and bifenthrin-treated plots recorded a complete reduction in soil collembolan population ten days after treatment (DAT).

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