INFLUENCE OF PLANT RESIDUES AND BIOFERTILIZER ON THE POPULATION DYNAMICS OF COLLEMBOLA IN SOIL MICROCOSMS

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.1411126130111

• Palavras-chave: ....

• Keywords: Biofertilizer; Soil mesofauna; Collembola; Soil biological indicators; Organic inputs; Soil microcosms.

• Abstract: Biofertilizers are increasingly used as sustainable alternatives to improve soil fertility, yet their effects on soil mesofauna remain poorly understood. This study evaluated the response of collembolan populations to different biofertilizer application rates under controlled laboratory conditions. Soil microcosms were established using clayey soil collected from the 0–10 cm layer of a Rhodic Ferralsol (WRB). Five biofertilizer doses (0, 150, 300, 450, and 600 L ha−1) were tested, and collembolan abundance was assessed in two sampling experiments (different years). The results showed that biofertilizer application significantly influenced collembolan populations. The highest abundance was observed at the intermediate dose of 450 L ha−1, suggesting that moderate inputs of organic matter may stimulate soil biological activity by increasing microbial biomass, an important food resource for these organisms. In contrast, the highest dose (600 L ha−1) resulted in lower abundance compared to the intermediate level, indicating a non-linear response to increasing organic inputs. Overall, the findings demonstrate that collembolan populations are sensitive to biofertilizer application rates and highlight their potential as indicators of changes in soil biological quality. Balanced management of organic inputs may therefore enhance soil biological activity and support key ecological processes in agroecosystems.