JOURNAL of Soil Biology and Ecology

Impact of higher dose of soil nutrient application on the soil mesofauna in the maize cropping system

Author:NGANGOM UMADEVI

Abstract :

The impact of different doses of NPK fertilizer on the abundance of soil mesofauna under rainfed conditions to achieve different target yields in maize crops with and without farmyard manure was studied. Soil application of 123.74:48.91:55.59 kg N:P: K/ha + 20.76 tonnes of FYM/ha harboured significantly higher soil mesofauna (26.88/400g soil) compared to other treatments during the cropping and non-cropping season. The least abundance of soil mesofauna was observed in the plot treated with recommended fertilizer alone (251.17:113.31:114.35 kg N:P: K/ha) (13.81/400 g soil) in cropping and non-cropping seasons. In the cropping season, the lowest and highest population of total soil mesofauna was noticed before the treatments (5.95/400g soil) and 105 DAG (31.85/400 g soil). Similarly, in the non-cropping season, the lowest and highest soil mesofauna abundance was recorded at 210 (2.85/400 g soil) and 120 DAG (10.85/400 g soil).

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