JOURNAL of Soil Biology and Ecology

The impact of agrochemicals on the population of litter-dwelling sminthurid collembolans in grassland ecosystems

Author:

BANASHREE MEDHI

Abstract :

From August to February, the effects of agrochemicals, including the insecticide Flubendiamide, acaricide Fenazaquin, fungicide Tricyclazole, insect growth regulator (IGR) Buprofezin, and water-soluble fertilizers (50:40:25 kg NPK/ha), on the abundance of sminthurid collembolans in a grassland habitat were studied. Among the treated plots, 2FA (2 foliar applications) of tricyclazole was observed significantly toxic on entomobryids. The fungivores entomobryids food chain was affected by tricyclazole. On the other hand, plot treated with 1FA of fenazaquin sounded safer. There was increase in population on 10 days after treatment (DAT). However, significant reduction in entomobryids was noticed on 30 DAT. Further reduction was observed on 80 and 95 DAT. Maximum reduction was observed in 2FA of fenazaquin on 10 DAT. On 30 DAT, 2FA of fenazaquin and fertilizers reported maximum reduction of entomobryids while, on 80 DAT, plots treated with 2FA of flubendiamide registered maximum reduction over control population. On 95 DAT, plot treated with one and two foliar treatments of fenazaquin, 1FA of flubendiamide, 2FA of buprofezin registered highest reduction over control.

Key words: Smithurids  Flubendiamide, Fenazaquin, Tricyclazole, Buprofezin, Fertilizers

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