Comparative Study on Soil Microbes from Muthalamada Mango Farms

Abstract

Abstract: Use of chemical pesticide to increase crop yield, especially in high income generating crops are common all over the world. Adverse effects of chemical pesticides on humans are a well-known. Application of chemical pesticides change the bio diversity starting from agricultural field and eventually making its way to natural ecosystem. The harmful effects of pesticide are often forgot because how the agroindustry and pesticides markets generate huge incomes since it is a multibillion-dollar market. The chemical pesticide changes the bio diversity of soil, affecting earthworms, nematodes, protozoa to various microbial communities which are essential for proper functioning of ecosystems. Microbial community is essential part of soil ecosystem, they directly influence various nutrient cycles and nutritional values of soil. The use of chemical pesticides affects the natural enzymes and functioning of bacteria and inhibits the production of useful enzymes and secondary metabolites, which helps in crop yield. In this study, soil samples from three mango farms were collected and the microbial load were analyzed. The study revealed that the mango farm which adopted organic farming technique combined with need based and approved amounts of pesticides having more soil bacteria compared to very less amount of microbial load in mango farm using chemical pesticides in Muthalamada, Mango City of Kerala. Use of organic farming along with the integration of approved pesticides in a controlled manner on agriculture fields improves crop yield without any harmful effects to the environment. Keywords: Mango, Organic farming, Pesticides, Muthalamada.