JOURNAL of Soil Biology and Ecology

The impact of various fertilizer doses, determined by soil testing and crop response, on the population of introduced native soil mesofauna

Author: 

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

Abstract:

The present field experiment focused on the effects of applying inorganic fertilizers and farmyard manure, based on soil testing and crop response (STCR), on the introduced native soil mesofauna in the chilli cropping system. The mean mesofauna population ranged from 12.26 to 20.68/400g soil sample across treatments. The treatment with POP (28.93:4.56:18.86Kg NPK/ha +25t FYM/ha) with 2kg mesofauna rich soil (MRS) documented significantly higher mesofauna population (20.68 mesofauna /400g soil sample) compared to treatments STCR 10q ha-1(32.07:0.69:16.35 Kg NPK/ha)+ no MRS , STCR 13q ha-1(45.28:4.40:23.89 Kg NPK/ha) +no MRS, LMH (35.22:2.45:15.72 Kg NPK/ha +25t FYM/ha)+2kg/plot MRS, STCR 10q ha-1  Integrated (27.67:0.50:12.58 Kg NPK/ha +25t FYM/ha) + no MRS, Control +no mesofauna rich soil, LMH (35.22:2.45:15.72 Kg NPK/ha +25t FYM/ha)+no MRS and Control +2 kg/plot MRS (12.26 mesofauna /400g soil sample. The introduction of MRS led to higher mesofauna populations, highlighting the effectiveness of soil amendments and encouraging confidence in their use.

Key words: Chilli, Farm yard manure, Fertilizer, Introduced native soil mesofauna, STCR

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