IMPACT OF CROP ROTATION ON SOIL FAUNA IN ORGANIC FARMING ECOSYSTEM
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Date
2014-07-02
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University of Agricultural Sciences GKVK, Banglore
Abstract
The investigation on the impact of crop rotation on soil fauna in organic farming
ecosystem was carried out at the ZARS, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK,
Bangalore, during 2013. Soil application of 20 tonnes of FYM/ha+introduction of native
fauna recorded significantly higher soil mesofauna, soil total Acari, cryptostigmatids,
other Acari, other invertebrates and macro fauna like ants and beetles compared to other
treatments during the cropping season. The highest population of total soil mesofauna
was noticed 105 days after germination. Application of 20t of FYM ha"' significantly
increased the soil organic carbon content(0.82%), available phosphorous(68.80 Kg/ha),
available potassium(314.36 Kg/ha), exchangeable calcium(6.58 meq/lOOg), exchangeable
magnesium(3.58 meq/lOOg), microbial biomass carbon(l 10.90 pg /g), microbial biomass
nitrogen(10.87 pg /g), Dehydrogenase (296.37pg TPF/ g soil). Acid phosphatase
(32.57pg PNP/ g soil). Alkaline phosphatase (15.77pg PNP/ g soil) and urease(l 11.54pg
NH4"'/ g soil) in the soil compared to recommended fertilizer alone treatment. The same
treatment also recorded higher plant biomass, root biomass, Rhizobium nodulation and
grain yield(16.01 q/ha) compared to recommended package practices (12.90 q/ha) and
recommended fertilizer alone(11.48 q/ha). Soil mesofauna abundance recorded a
significant positive relationship with available phosphorus, exchangeable calcium,
exchangeable magnesium, soil pH, microbial biomass carbon, Dehydrogenase and
urease. Abundance of mesofauna played an important role in the formation of available
phosphorus, potassium. Ex calcium. Ex magnesium and alkaline phosphatase. Soil
moisture and atmospheric minimum temperature showed significantly positive and
negative relationship with the abundance of soil mesofauna. These factors together with
rainfall exhibited significant influence on the abundance on the mesofauna(67%).
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