JOURNAL of Soil Biology and Ecology

The influence of abiotic factors on soil mesofaunal activity within high-nutrient applications in maize cropping systems

Author:NGANGOM UMADEVI

Abstract :

This study evaluated the effects of various NPK fertilizer doses on soil mesofauna abundance in rainfed maize cropswith and without farmyard manure (FYM). The combination of 123.74:48.91:55.59 kg N:P:K/ha and 20.76 tonnes of FYM/ha resulted in the highest soil mesofauna abundance (26.88/400g soil). In contrast, the recommended fertilizer alone (251.17:113.31:114.35 kg N:P:K/ha) showed the lowest abundance (13.81/400g soil). In the cropping season, mesofauna abundance ranged from 5.95/400g soil before treatments to 31.85/400g soil at its peak. In the non-cropping season, it varied from 2.85/400g soil to 10.85/400g soil. The soil mesofauna demonstrated a significant relationship with abiotic factors. Maximum atmospheric temperature, sunshine duration, and soil moisture negatively correlated with soil mesofaunal abundance, while minimum relative humidity and soil temperature positively correlated. A positive link was also found between minimum temperature, maximum relative humidity, and total rainfall, but in-situ soil temperature negatively affected soil mesofauna. Overall, abiotic factors accounted for 70% of the variation in soil mesofaunal abundance. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that soil moisture influenced soil mesofauna abundance by 51%, with each unit change in soil moisture resulting in a decrease of 3.637 units in abundance.

Key words: Soil mesofauna, Fertilizers, Abiotic factors, Soil moisture, Maize

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