Influence of abiotic factors on soil and litter mesofauna abundance in the natural grassland ecosystem
Authors:   Department of Agril.Entomology University of Agril.Sciences, GKVK, Bengaluru -560065, Karnataka, India Email: ngkumar55@yahoo.co.in, N G KUMAR , P. NIRMALA , T.G. AVINASH 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
The study was conducted in an undisturbed natural grassland ecosystem to examine how abiotic factors affect the distribution of litter and soil mesofauna. The results showed a strong correlation between the abundance of soil and litter mesofauna and abiotic factors. In the natural grassland, the soil mesofauna population ranged from 10.00 (second fortnight) to 62.00 /400g (Xthfortnight), with an average population of 26.64 /400g. Similarly, the litter mesofauna population ranged from 10.00 (second fortnight) to 230.33 /100g (Xth fortnight), with an average population of 57.62/100g. The distribution of soil and litter mesofauna was significantly influenced by abiotic factors, up to 91.20 and 96.50 per cent, respectively. Soil temperature at 7 hrs affected the abundance of litter mesofauna by up to 47.9. A one-unit change in soil temperature at 7 hrs decreased 59.27 units in litter mesofauna abundance. Additionally, sunshine hours, soil temperature, and atmospheric minimum temperature collectively influenced litter mesofauna abundance by up to 84.4 per cent. Furthermore, these three abiotic factors and soil moisture impacted litter mesofauna abundance by up to 91.00 per cent.

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