JOURNAL of Soil Biology and Ecology 

The activity of soil macrofauna and ants in the intensively cultivated baby corn cropping system

Author: C.R. ABHILASHA

Abstract:

Soil macrofaunal activity in any ecosystem depends on the cropping system, inputs used, cultivation practices followed, and availability of various food sources. With this background, an experiment was carried out to know the impact of various doses of FYM. (5,10,12.5,15,17.5 and 20 t ha-1) Furthermore, inorganic fertilizer (100:75:50:25 and 0 percent of recommended fertilizer (100:50:25kg NPK ha-1) were used to cultivate “Baby Corn” on the activity of soil macro-faunal abundance, with special reference to ant’s diversity. Soil macrofauna was collected by fixing pitfall traps in each treatment at 10 and 15 days intervals up to 30 and 300 days after germination. Higher soil macro-faunal abundance was recorded in 20 t of FYM ha-1(68.29 macro fauna /trap) applied treatment compared to other treatments during the cropping season. Lower macrofauna activity was observed in 10t of partially decomposed FYM /ha applied (28.32 macro fauna /trap) treatment and was on par with the recommended dose of fertilizer-treated plots (29.48 macro fauna/trap). The higher macrofaunal activity was noticed 75 days after germination. Ants activity (70.79 %) was more in the practices followed treatment package than other treatments. Beetles were dominant in 20t of FYM /ha applied treatment. Another macrofauna (18.84 %) was more in inorganic fertilizer alone applied treatment. Ten species (9 genera) of ants belonging to four subfamilies were recorded in 20 t of FYM ha-1applied plots. Recommended fertilizer-alone treatment recorded seven species (7 genera) belonging to three subfamilies. Pheidole sp. was dominated in all the treatments.

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