Soil arthropod community structures with emphasis on collembolan diversity in Trichoderma-enhanced and conventional cabbage (Brassica oleraceae L.) farms in Sariaya, Quezon.

Date

4-2013

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Biology

Major Course

Major in Ecology Genetics

College

College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Lit , Ireneo L. Jr.

Co-adviser

Caasi-Lit, Merdelyn T.

Committee Member

Cuevas, Virginia C.

Abstract

The effect of Trichoderma applied to cabbage farms on the soil arthropod community was assessed, this being the first study conducted on this subject. Emphasis was given on collembolans mainly because they include fungivores and share same ecological requirements with Trichoderma. Field experiments were conducted in Barangays Mamala 1 (Site 1) and Sampaloc 1 (Site 2) in Sariaya, Quezon to determine possible differences in functional guilds and compare arthropod composition, abundance and diversity between Trichoderma-treated and conventional cabbage plots. Soil samples were collected at 20, 40 and 60 days after planting (DAP) from both sites and run through Berlese-Tullgren funnel to extract arthropods. Results showed that for both sites, the total abundance of arthropods was higher in Trichoderma-treated (Site 1: 4926, Site 2: 2336) than in the conventional plots (Site 1:2502, Site 2:926). Some arthropod families showed sensitivity to conventional farming practices as shown by the higher number of families represented in Trichoderma-treated plots. Five collembolan species were identified with Isotomurus parabalteatus Gapud and Isotomina lombokensis (Schött) as the most abundant. The total number of collembolans was higher in Trichoderma-treated (Site 1: 1350, Site 2: 304) than in conventional plots (Site 1: 401, Site 2: 74). However, results varied between sampling periods depending on the prevailing physical conditions. The two treatments differed significantly in terms of all soil arthropods from Site 1 and only at 60 DAP in Site 2 whereas there were no significant differences for collembolans. Therefore, Trichoderma may enhance the population of soil arthropods given optimal conditions but beneficial effects in maintaining such populations, including those of collembolans, may be diminished under suboptimal conditions.

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Cataloging Section

Call Number

LG 993.5 2013 B4 S68

Document Type

Thesis

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS