• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.75-80
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• 1998

Organically cultured rice fields were surveyed to compare the population density and the structure of microarthropod communities between chemically controlled and un-controlled fields. In rice fields, microarthropod communities were also compared among four treatments based on different input of fertilzer : 1)No fertilizer, 2)Chemical fertilizer(N-P2O5-K2O = 11 - 7 - 8 kg/10a, 3) Compost (5,000kg/10a), 4) Compost com-plemented with chemical N. Richness index of microarthropod communities in rice fields was greater in the chemically uncontrolled field than controlled field. Within field. the compost plot had greater value of richness index for microarthopod commuities than the non-fertilizer polt. A total of 9 aquatic insects species were identified in the water of organic farming rice field the population density was found to be higher in the compost plot than the other plot. The population of insect pests was found to be high in the late stage of plant whereas the population of insects was high in the early stage of rice plant.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.317-323
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• 2010

Nutrient availability is a critical component of agroecosystems, and is relevant to both above- and below- ground interactions. The principal objective of this study was to determine how the cessation of fertilization affects the communities of weeds and soil organisms in a corn/wheat field. Changes in dominant weed species, substrate-induced respiration, and the population density of nematodes and microarthropods were evaluated. Microbial substrate-induced respiration (SIR) and the population density of microarthropods decreased following the cessation of fertilization and were partly correlated with the aboveground weed biomass. The cessation of organic fertilizer application but continuing application of inorganic fertilizer reduced the population density of nematodes. In response to the cessation of fertilization, weed communities were dominated by species with little dependency on fertilization. Amaranthus retroflexus was identified as the most dominant species in the corn field; however, it was replaced by Digitaria ciliaris after the cessation of fertilization. In the wheat field, the cessation of fertilization led to a rapid reduction in the biomass of most weeds, except for Vicia angustifolia, supposedly as the result of symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Additionally, the fact that weed biomass was partially correlated with SIR or the population density of microarthropods may reflect a mutual feedback between soil organisms and weeds. The results indicate that the cessation of fertilization alters communities of weeds and soil organisms through changes in weed biomass and interactions with symbiotic microorganisms.