Studies on the bacteria, fungi and springtails (Collembola) of an agroforestry arboretum in Nigeria

Okoh, I.A.; Badejo, M.A.; Nathaniel, I.T.; Tian, G.

Studies on the bacteria, fungi and springtails (Collembola) of an agroforestry arboretum in Nigeria

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Descripción

e aerobic heterotrophic bacteria, fungal and springtail populations of four monoculture agroforestry plots, a regrowth forest and a grass plot were investigated in September, October, and November 1994 so as to throw more light on the relationships between them in a tropical soil. Soil properties, litter composition and temperature and moisture conditions were also investigated. The mean of four replicates was recorded for each parameter. Bacteria and fungi were estimated using a standard pour plate technique while springtails were extracted in a modified Berlese-Tullgren funnel extractor. Bacterial counts were of the order of Jos to I 06 cfu/g while fungal counts were of the order of J 03 to I ()4 in the experimental plots. There was a predominance of aerobic heterotrophic bacteria over fungi in all the experimental plots. The dynamics of the populations of bacteria, fungi and springtails were different from one another and between experimental plots. Springtail populations declined gradually from September to November in all experimental plots. This trend did not occur for bacteria and fungi. All experimental plots supported similar bacteria and springtail populations during the period of study but the species composition and diversity of fungal populations differed between plots. Results of correlation studies suggest that there is a negati ve relationship between springtails and bacteria.