Document: MOH-3-61-1

Effect of pruning and ammonium nitrate fertilizer on the populations of soil Acarina and Collembola in Jasmine grandiflorum, L. cultivations, in Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt.

TADROS, M.S.* and F.A.SHARSHIR

Tanta University Kafr El-Sheikh 33516 Egypt ¹

Abstract:
The present work was carried out at the experimental station of the Faculty of Agriculture, Tanta University, at Kafr El-Sheikh city, 140 km. to the north east of Cairo, Egypt and lasted for two complete seasons of 1997 and 1998. The selected area was 1050 m². The aim of the investigation was to find out the effect of prunning and adding ammonium nitrate fertilizer on: (a) the vegetative growth rate and blooming of season of jasmine trees and (b) populations of both mites and springtails existing in soil till 20 cm deep. Fertilizer was added at (0.50, 100. 200 kg/fed.) Soil samples were taken by the steel cylinder method. Results indicated a negative effect on either total recorded organisms, or between the four Acarina considered groups; Gamasida, Actinedida, Oribatida and Acaridida. Twenty-five mite species of 22 families were recorded, plus, 7 springtalis of 7 families. Ammonium nitrate fertilizer gave the best positive results at its highest rate. The records indicated 1026 and 447 individuals of Acarina and Collembola respectively, per-mean sample. The abundance of soil mites, and collemolans reached its maximum in August (flowering), and its minimum in December, (pruning).

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This abstract is being presented at: 3:30 PM in session:
AGROECOLOGY