JOURNAL of Soil Biology and Ecology

The influence of agrochemicals on the population dynamics of collembolans within the litter of grassland ecosystems

Author: 

ABDUL QAHAR QARLUQ

Abstract:

The study investigated the impact of agro-chemicals on the abundance of litter collembolans in an undisturbed grassland habitat characterized by a thick mat of grass. The agrochemicals examined included insecticides (phorate, carbofuran, and chlorpyrifos), an acaricide (dicofol), a fungicide (carbendazim), as well as neem cake and water-soluble fertilizers applied at a rate of 50:40:25 kg NPK per hectare.  Carbofuran was found to be significantly more toxic to the collembolan population (1.67/100g litter) than the control (3.79/100g litter). The order of toxicity to Cryptostigmata was carbofuran = fertilizer = dicofol =carbendazim = phorate = chlorpyriphos = neem cake < control.  A significant reduction in Collembolan population was observed immediately on day 10 (1.33 Collembola/100 g of litter). Foliar application of dicofol (0.67) and soil application of fertilizer (0.67) were highly toxic to Collembola during 10 DAT. Maximum reduction of collembolan abundance was observed in plots receiving fertilizer (38%), chlorpyriphos, (36 %) and dicofol (2.36%). This study provides hope for change in the management of agro-chemicals.

Key Words: Acaricide, Collembola, Fertilizers, Fungicide, Insecticide, Neem cake

References :

Andres, P. and Domene, X., 2005. Ecotoxicological and fertilizing effects of dewatered, composted and dry sewage sludge on soil mesofauna: A TME experiment. Ecotoxicology, pp. 545-557.

Banashree Medhi, 2024. Impact of agrochemicals on the population of litter entomobryid collembolans in the grassland ecosystems. J. Soil Biol. Ecol., 44(1): 84-92.(doi:10.58682/JSBE.44.1/ITVL7329)

Banashree Medhi, 2025. Impact of agrochemicals on the population of litter-dwelling sminthurid collembolans in grassland ecosystems. J. Soil Biol. Ecol., 45(1): 74-81.(doi:10.58682/JSBE.44.1/THAE7405)

Behan, B., 1972. The effects of urea on acarina and other arthropods in Quebec black spruce (Picea mariana Mill.) humus, M.Sc. Thesis, Mc Gill Univ., Montreal, pp. 175.

Bhattacharya, J. and Bhattacharya, T., 1987. Changes in the abundance of soil micro-arthropods in two contrasting sites in the Durgapur industrial area. J. Soil Biol. Ecol., 7(2): 110-121.

Cockfield, S.D. and Potter, D.A., 1983. Short-term effects of insecticidal applications on predacious arthropods and oribatid mites in Kentucky blue grass turf. Environ. Entomol., 12(12): 1260-1264.

Cole, L., Buckland, S.M. and Bardgett, R.D., 2008. Influence of disturbance and nitrogen addition on plant and soil animal diversity in Grassland. Soil. Biol. Biochem., 40: 505-514.

Colinas, C., Ingham, E. and Molina, R., 1994. Population responses of target and non-target forest soil organisms to selected biocides. Soil Bio. Biochem., 26(1): 41-47.

Forster, B., Garcia, M., Francimari, O. and Rombke, J., 2006. Effects of carbendazim and lambda-cyhalothrin on soil invertebrates and leaf litter decomposition in semi-field and field tests under tropical conditions (Amazonia, Brazil). European J. Soil Biol., 42: 171–179.

Frampton, G.K. and van den Brink, P.J., 2007. Collembola and macro-arthropod community responses to carbamate, organo-phosphatic and synthetic pyrethroid insecticides: direct and indirect effects. Environ Pollut., 147(1): 14-25.

Garcia, M., 2004. Effects of pesticides on soil fauna: Development of ecotoxicological test methods for tropical regions zentrum tur ent wicklung storschung center for development Research. Ecology and Development Series No .19. University of Bonn.

Kong, W.D., Zhu, Y.G., Fu, B.J., Han, X.Z., Zhang, L. and He, J.Z., 2008. Effect of long-term application of chemical fertilizers on microbial biomass and functional diversity of a black soil. Pedosphere, 18(6): 801-808.

Krogh, P.H., 1991. Perturbation of the soil micro-arthropod community with the pesticides benomyl and isofenphos population changes. Pedobiologia, 35(2): 71-78.

Kumar, K. and Agarwal, R.A., 1983. Systemic granular insecticides and rhizosphere fauna of cotton. J. Soil Biol. Ecol., 3(1): 13-21.

Kumar, N.G., Avinash, T.G. and Nirmala, P., 2024.The impact of farmyard manure and fertilizer application rates on soil mesofauna in both monoculture and crop rotation systems. J. Soil Biol. Ecol., 44(1): 93-99.(doi:10.58682/JSBE.44.1/IJLL7617)

Majumdar, A. and Roy, S., 1991.Effect of a Tridemorph fungicide- calaxin on collembolan and fungal population of undisturbed grassland at Burdwan. J. Soil Biol. Ecol., 11(1): 24-29.

Marshal, V.G., 1977. Effects of manures and fertilizers on soil fauna: A review CAB special publication, 3: 79.

Ngangom Umadevi, 2024. Impact of higher dose of soil nutrient application on the soil mesofauna in the maize cropping system. J. Soil Biol. Ecol., 44(1):48-57.(doi:10.58682/JSBE.44.1/SVKI8099) 

Ngangom Umadevi, 2025.The influence of abiotic factors on soil mesofaunal activity within high -nutrient applications in maize cropping system. J. Soil Biol. Ecol., 45(1):45-58.(doi:10.58682/JSBE.45.1/ULHV6367) 

Pimental, D., 1992. Forward. In: Ecological processes in agro- ecosystems, (Eds.) M. Shiyomi, E. Yano, H. Koizumi, D.A. Andow and N. Hokyo), Japan. pp. 1-2.

Rashmi, M.A., 2009. Role of agrochemicals on soil faunal composition in grassland ecosystem. M.Sc. (Agri) Thesis, Univ. Agric. Sci., Bangalore, pp. 125-127.

Sarath, B.B. and Gupta, G.P., 1986. Effect of systemic insecticides on the population of soil arthropods in cotton field. J.Soil Biol. Ecol., 6(6): 32-41.

Singh, R. and Gupta, G.P., 1993. Impact of insecticidal schedules on soil arthropods in cotton ecosystem. J.Soil Biol. Ecol., 13(1): 50-56.

Stark, J.D., 1992. Comparison of the impact of neem seed kernel extract formulation, Margosan- O and chlorpyriphos on non-target invertebrates inhabiting turf grass. Pesticide Sci., 36(3): 293-299.

Sundararaj, N.,  Nagaraju,  S.,  Venkataramu,  M.N. and  Jagannath, M.K., 1972. Design and Analysis of field experiments, UAS, Bangalore, p. 419.

Tadros, M.S. and Carey, W.F., 1982.Effect of a single application of chlorpyriphos on soil micro-arthropods existing in a turf plot, with reference to existing residues of chlordane, Dursban and DDT (Eds.) Griffiths, D.A. and Bowman, C.E., Acarology 2, Ellis Horwood Limited, England, pp. 941-950.

Tomlin, A.D., 1977. Toxicity of soil applications of the fungicide benomyl and two analogues to three species of Collembola. Can.Ent., 109: 1619-1620.

Yang, X., Warren, M. and Zou, X., 2007.Fertilization responses of soil litter fauna and litter quantity, quality, and turnover in low and high elevation forests of Puerto Rico. Appl. Soil Ecol., 37: 63-71.

Yen, J.H., Chang, J.S., Huang, P.J. and Wang, Y.S., 2009. Effects of fungicides triadimefon and propiconazole on soil bacterial communities. J. Environ. Sci. Health Part B., 44: 681-689.