JOURNAL of Soil Biology and Ecology

The effect of optimal irrigation schedules on the mass production of native mesofauna of undisturbed ecosystems.

Author:N.G. KUMAR, T.G. AVINASH AND P. NIRMALA

Abstract :

The present study examined the effects of optimal watering schedules on the abundance of introduced native mesofauna of undisturbed ecosystems, conducted under greenhouse conditions. Watering every other day yielded a significantly higher abundance of mesofauna, averaging 224.67 individuals per 400 grams of soil, with population counts ranging from 60 to 315.33 individuals per 400 grams throughout the experimental duration. This was followed by a watering frequency of every three days, resulting in an average of 80.17 individuals per 400 grams of soil, and daily watering, which yielded an average of 71.33 individuals per 400 grams. There were no significant differences in mesofauna abundance observed for weekly, ten-day, fifteen-day, and twenty-day watering intervals. Additionally, these treatments were comparable to the control group, which relied on natural rainwater.

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