Journal of SOIL BIOLOGY and ECOLOGY

Impact of agrochemicals on the soil macrofauna of the grassland ecosystem

Authors: BANASHREE MEDHI AND N.G. KUMAR

Abstract:

The effect of agro-chemicals as one and two applications of insecticide (Flubendiamide), acaricide (Fenazaquin), fungicide (Tricyclazole), IGR (Buprofezin) and water-soluble fertilizers (50: 40: 25 kg NPK / ha) on the abundance of soil macrofauna was studied in grassland habitat cover with a thick mat of grasses (Botanical garden) in the University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK Campus, Bangalore. The mean higher macrofauna population was observed in fenzaquin 1, and 2FA treated plots. The rest of the treatments registered no difference in the population at the end of 165 days after treatment (DAT). A reduction in the population was observed in all the treatments from 10 to 165 DAT compared to before treatment. A higher impact on the macrofauna population was noticed in fertilizer, followed by buprofezin (2FA), tricyclazole(2FA), buprofezin(1FA), fenazaquin (2FA) and flubendiamide(2FA) at 10 DAT. However, the impact was more in buprofezin(1FA) followed by flubendiamide(1FA) and tricyclazole (2FA) at 30 DAT. Buprofezin (2FA) exhibited a severe reduction of macrofauna even at 50DAT. The least relative abundance of Coleoptera was recorded in 1 FA of buprofezin. However, the abundance of Orthoptera and other invertebrates was lower with 1 FA of fenazaquin. Orthoptera’s relative abundance was higher in plots treated with fertilizers, whereas the abundance of ants was lower in fertilizers.

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