Study of soil macro fauna on different crop land types in andisol Pasir Sarongge, west Java

Abstract

Soil macro fauna have almost the same important role as soil microorganisms in affecting soil characteristics. However, data regarding the population and the biodiversity of soil macro fauna in Indonesia are still rare. The objective of this research is to determine the population and the biodiversity of soil macro fauna in various cropland types and soil depths. The research was conducted at Bogor Agricultural University Field Experimental Station in Pasir Sarongge, Cipanas at four cropland types namely grass, citrus, cereals, and vegetables. In each cropland type, a hand sorting observation method was conducted at four different soil depths: 0-10 cm, 10-20 cm, 20-30 cm, and 30-40 cm. Each observation was replicated four times at different locations. The total population of soil macro fauna in each cropland type were grass > cereals > vegetables > citrus. The populations were 3.64 × 106 organisms ⁄ ha, 3.54 ×106 organisms ⁄ ha, 3.28 &times 106 organisms ⁄ ha, and 3.17 × 106 organisms ⁄ ha respectively. In all cropland types, the total population of soil macro fauna decreased with soil depth. The type of cropland had a significant effect on the biodiversity of soil macro fauna at all soil depths. The biodiversity of soil macro fauna was vegetables > citrus > cereals > grass. The biodiversity in all cropland types decreased with soil depth. The population of earthworms and ants were affected significantly by soil depth in all cropland types, meanwhile the population of termites, centipedes, and beetles were affected by soil depth only in a certain cropland type.