JOURNAL of Soil Biology and Ecology

Impact of various agrochemicals on the population of soil mesofauna in undisturbed grassland ecosystems

Author:Abdul Qahar Qarluq

Abstract :

The impact of agrochemicals, including insecticides (phorate, carbofuran and chlorpyriphos), acaricide (dicofol), fungicides (carbendazim), neem cake and water-soluble fertilizers(50:40:25 kg NPK/ha)  on the abundance of soil invertebrates in an undisturbed grassland habitat with a thick mat of grass was studied. Among the treated plots, it was observed that soil application of phorate (3007.78 total invertebrates / 400 g of soil) exhibited significantly higher toxicity to total invertebrates compared to control (6133.52) but was on par with the rest of the treatments. The order of toxicity to total soil invertebrates was Phorate > carbendazim >carbofuran >dicofol > fertilizer > chlorpyriphos > neemcake > control. The pre-treatment population of total invertebrates was (9259.26 total invertebrates /m2 of soil) significantly higher than the rest of the observation period except 20 DAT. The abundance of total invertebrates was reduced significantly at 10 days after treatment (2904.58). A further increase in population was seen in 20 DAT, but it was reduced gradually from 45 DAT. Recovery was substantial at 150 DAT.

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