JOURNAL of Soil Biology and Ecology

Examining the effects of increased fertilizer application and abiotic

factors on soil macrofauna activity in maize cropping systems

Author:

NGANGOM UMADEVI

Abstract:

The impact of various soil nutrient application methods on soil macrofauna activity and yield was assessed in a rainfed maize crop. Soil macrofauna activity varied significantly across treatments, cropping seasons, and durations. During the cropping season, plots treated with 251.17:113.31:114.35 kg N:P:K/ha had the highest macrofauna abundance (65.11/trap). In comparison, the control plots showed an abundance of 44.88/trap, and plots that received 150:75:50 kg N:P:K/ha plus 10 tonnes FYM/ha had an abundance of 32.18/trap. The lowest macrofauna population during the cropping season was found in plots treated with fertilizer alone at 173.32:93.66:97.96 kg N:P:K/ha (22.07/trap). During the non-cropping season, the STCR approach, targeting a yield of 110q/ha and using a split application of 50% fertilizer (123.74:48.91:55.59 kg N:P:K/ha) plus 50% FYM (20.76 tonnes FYM/ha), yielded the highest abundance (71.92/trap). In contrast, the lowest populations were observed in plots with 251.17:113.31:114.35 kg N:P:K/ha (25.53/trap) and in the control (30.76/trap). Furthermore, maximum relative humidity and soil temperature demonstrated significant negative relationships with macrofauna abundance, whereas sunshine hours and soil moisture showed positive relationships. Abiotic factors overall accounted for 74% of the variation in macrofauna activity.Each unit increase in soil moisture was associated with a 7.529-unit increase in soil macrofauna.

Key words: Abiotic factors, Fertilizers , FYM, Macrofauna, Soil moisture

References :

Ayuke, F. O., Brussaard, L., Vanlauwe, B., Six, J., Lelei, D. K., Kibunja, C. N. and Pulleman, M. M., 2011. Soil fertility management: impacts on soil macro-fauna, soil aggregation and soil organic matter allocation. Applied Soil Ecology, 48(1): 53-62.

Badejo, M. A., Nathaniel, T. I. and Tian, G., 1998. Abundance of springtails (Collembola) under four agro forestry tree species with contrasting litter quality. Biol. Fer. Soils, 27 (1): 15-20.

Banerjee, S., 1996. Relationship between soil factors and acari in laterite forest soil at Bankara, West Bengal. In: Soil Organisms and Sustainability (Eds: Rajagopal, D., Radha, D. K. and Kubra, B.), ISSBE, UAS, Bangalore, pp. 195-201.

Banerjee, S. and Roy, S., 1988. Ecophysiology of Acari in forest floor of Birbhum district, West Bengal, India. In: Abstract of 10th International Soil Zoology Colloquium, Bangalore, India. 7-13th August, 1988, pp. 107.

Bhattacharya, T. and Raychaudhuri, T. N., 1979. Monthly variation in the density of soil micro-arthropods in relation to some climatic and edaphic factors. Entomon, 4: 313-318.

Chakraborti, P. and Bhattacharya, T., 1996. Fluctuation of soil micro-arthropods in a rubber plantation and an adjacent wasteland. J. Soil Biol. Ecol., 16 (1): 54-59.

Dhar, S. L. and Raina, M. K., 1988. Ecological studies on high altitude mesofauna under temperate ecosystem, Kashmir, Himalaya, India. In: Advances in management and conservation of soil fauna (Eds: Veeresh, G.K., Rajagopal, D. and Viraktamath, C. A.), Oxford and IBH publishing Co.Pvt.Ltd. New Delhi, pp. 111.

Gruzdeva, L. I., Matveeva, E. M. and Kovalenko, T. E., 2007. Changes in soil nematode communities under the impact of fertilizers. Eurasian Soil Sci., 40: 681 – 693.

Hryniuk, J., 1966. Influence of many years’ fertilization on the mesofauna in soil. In : Progress en Biologia del suelo. Ler colloquio. Latino americano de Biologia del suelo Bahia Blinca (E.H.Rapoport, ed.), Montevideo pp. 413-417.

Keesing, V. and Wratten, D.S., 1998. Indigenous invertebrate components in ecological restoration in agricultural landscapes. New Zealand J. Eco., 22 (1): 99-104.

Kumar, N.G., Nirmala, P. and Avinash, T.G., 2023. Impact of abiotic factors on the litter and soil mesofauna abundance in the Leucaena leucocephala (Lam) de Wit plantations. J.Soil Biol.Ecol.,43(2):82-90.(doi.org/10.58682/jsbe.43.2).

Kumar, N.G., Nirmala, P. and Avinash, T.G., 2024a, Influence of abiotic factors on soil and litter mesofauna abundance in the natural grassland ecosystem. J. Soil Biol. Ecol.,44(1): 58-66.(doi.org/10.58682/jsbe.44.1/PVEC7341).

Kumar, N.G., Nirmala, P. and Avinash, T.G., 2024b. Effect of abiotic factors on soil and leaf litter mesofauna abundance in a natural undisturbed forest ecosystem. J.Soil Biol.Ecol.,44(1):67-75.(doi.org/10.58682/jsbe.44.1/UZZK1434).

Marnta, Singh, Jain, K. L., Mathur, R. B., Dinesh, D., Singh, M. and Dogra, D., 1996. Physico-chemical factors affecting mite density in soil and litter of Dalbergia sissoo plantation. Ann. Biol., 12 (1): 151-156.

Minarro, M., Espadaler, X., Melero, V. X. and Suarez Alvarez, V., 2009. Organic versus conventional management in an apple orchard: effects of fertilization and tree-row management on ground-dwelling predaceous arthropods. Agricultural and Forest Entomology, 11(2): 133-142.

Narasa reddy, G., 2012. Studies on the inter-relationship between soil mesofauna and nematodes in organic farming system. M.Sc.(Agri) Thesis, University of Agricultural Sciences., Bangalore, p. 160.

Ngangom Umadevi, 2025.The influence of abiotic factors on soil mesofaunal activity within high- nutrient applications in maize cropping systems. J.Soil Biol.Ecol.,45(1):45-58.(doi.org/10.58682/jsbe.45.1/ULHV6367).

Palacios, V. J. G., Castano, M. G., Gomez, J. A., Martinez, B. E. and Martinez, J., 2007. Litter and soil arthropods diversity and density in a tropical dry forest ecosystem in Western Mexico. Biodives. Conser., 16: 3703-3717.

Rana Naureen, Shahnaz A. Rana, Hammad A. Khan and Anjum Sohail., 2010. Assessment of Possible Threats to Soil Macro-invertebrates Diversity in Wheat Fields from High Input Farming. International journal of Agriculture and Biology, 12(6): 801-808.

Sheela, K. and Haq, M., 1991, Oribatid mites as bio-indicators of soil moisture. In: Advances in management and conservation of soil fauna (Eds: Veeresh, G. K., Rajagopal, D. and Viraktamath, C. A.) Oxford and IBH publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd., NewDelhi, pp. 871-876.

Shilpa, V., 2012. Studies on the impact of climate change on soil macro-faunal abundance and diversity in organic farming system. M.Sc.(Agri) Thesis, University of Agricultural Sciences., Bangalore, p. 182.

Shivappa Agadi, Kumar, N.G. and Prakash, K.V. ,2019. Interacting effects of farmingpractices and abiotic factors on the introduced soil mesofauna in sunflower ecosystem. J. Soil Biol.Ecol.,39:83-101.

Shukla, R. N., Sharma, P. S. and Ranjna, M., 1996 .Soil insect population from three sites in Rewa (M.P.) In: Soil Organisms and Sustainability. (Eds: Rajagopal, D., Radha, D. K. and Kubra, B.) ISSBE, UAS, Bangalore, pp. 242-250. 

Sinha, P. B., Sen, S. S., Zahidi, A. P. and Naqvi, A. H., 1991. Comparative study on the ecology of soil mesofauna in a vegetable garden and a deciduous forest at Ranchi, India. In: Advances in management and conservation of soil fauna (Eds: Veeresh, G. K., Rajagopal, D. and Viraktamath, C. A.) Oxford and IBH publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi. pp. 419-427.

Sundararaj, N.,Nagaraj, S., Venkataramu, M. N. and Jagannath, M. K., 1972. Design and analysis of field experiments. UAS, Misc. Series, No. 22, Bangalore.

Tester, C. F., 1990. Organic amendment effects on physical and chemical properties of a sandy soil. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., 65: 1284–1292.

Virupaksha,B.G., 2011. Development of conservation practices for below ground biodiversity in soybean ecosystem. M.Sc. (Agri) Thesis, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, p. 191.