Effect of Ecological Factors on Population Density of Collembolan in Agra regions
DeepmalaVerma, Rajesh K. Yadav and Manish Kumar
Abstract
Collembola are extremely abundant in soil and leaf litter and maintaining the agricultural ecosystem which is enriched by plant litter decomposition. This Present study is based on effect of ecological factor on Collembolapopulations in Agra regions. We have selected two different habitats in this investigation: Agricultural Area and A natural field. During study, Total 126 samples have been collected from different locations and soil collembolan extraction done by Modified Tullgren’s funnel apparatus. We have found that Collembolans found highly frequent in entire community of soil collembolan, comprising up to 76.8% absolute frequency in natural site whereas 63.2% in Agricultural site. Population study of collembola for one calendar year was made in relation with temperature, moisture, and organic carbon and nitrogen contents of agricultural and natural site upto 0-10 cm. soil layer. Soil moisture content played important role and developed a significant correlation with the monthly population density of collembola. With increase carbon and nitrogen contents also observe increase population density indicating collembola’s active participation in the release of these two nutrients from litter through decomposition and its incorporation in soil fertility.