21 Kas 2024 Perşembe
Impact of oil palm cultivation on micro-arthropod diversity and nutrient status in the soil at a university in Nigeria
Abstract :Oil palm plantations may alter soil nutrients and biodiversity in either ways. The impact of oil palm plantation on micro-arthropods abundance and diversity were evaluated and the soil nutrient status was ascertained. Soil samples were taken from a seven year old palm plantation and in a contiguous forest with a bucket-type auger. Micro-arthropods were extracted from the soils with a modified Berlese-Tullgren funnel. The micro-arthropods were extracted and identified with a dissecting microscope using dichotomous keys. Temperature, pH and moisture content of the soil samples were measured in situ, the Total Organic Carbon, and Total Organic Matter were determined with Walkley-Black Method. The nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium contents of the soils were ascertained with Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. A total of 844 micro-arthropods were extracted from the soil samples, they were grouped in 7 orders and 32 species. The order Oribatida was the most abundant (60%), followed by Hymenoptera (16%), Mesostigmata (10%), Collembola (7%) Coleoptera (4%), Diplura (2%), and Isopoda (1%). The essence of higher abundance of microarthropods at the contiguous forest, similar species diversity in both locations and higher levels of soil nutrients at the plantation were discussed.
Oil palm plantation, micro-arthropods, species diversity, soil nutrients, Nigeria