Abstract

MARIN BEITIA, Elida Patricia; SANCHEZ DE PRAGER, Marina; SIERRA MONRROY, Alexandra  and  PENARANDA PARADA, Martha Rocío. Populations of Mites, Collembola and other Mesofauna in an Inceptisol under Different Management. Rev. Fac. Nac. Agron. Medellín [online]. 2015, vol.68, n.1, pp.7411-7422. ISSN 0304-2847.  https://doi.org/10.15446/rfnam.v68n1.47828.

In a Humic Dystrudepts soil located in Palmira (Colombia), changes in populations of mesofauna (with emphasis on mites and collembola) and some of their physical properties due to the use of green manures (GM) were evaluated. Five treatments were established in a randomized complete block design: control, chemical fertilization, GM (green manure), Compost and GM plus Compost. The GM was a mixture of Canavalia ensiformis L. and Axonopus scoparius, Hitchc. Mesofauna was extracted using a metal cylinder of a diameter of 10 cm and 5 cm height. The mesoinvertebrates were separated by the Berlesse-Tullgren method and estimated its richness in taxonomic units (TU) and abundance in number of individuals/785.4 cm³ soil, separating the first 10 cm depth. Sampling was carried out during four periods: before the establishment of the GM, GM growing stage, eight weeks after the addition of the GM and at corn harvest period. Statistical analysis showed that most significant differences occurred among sampling periods and to a lesser extent among treatments. Mites and Collembola constituted the dominant populations in the soil mesofauna. Cutting and adding compost and GM increased populations, being Oribatida and Mesostigmata mites and collembola Entomobryidae and Isotomidae the most abundant. The bulk density, aggregate stability, mites and collembola were sensitive to changes in the corn system using green manure and compost.

Keywords : Green manure; organic matter; physical properties; mesoinvertebrates.

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