IMPACT OF WEEDS ON DIVERSITY OF SOIL ARTHROPODS IN Bt COTTON FIELD IN FAISALABAD PAKISTAN

Abstract

The present study was conducted to check the impact of weeds on diversity of soil arthropods in Bt cotton field by using RCBD design with four treatments and three replications at Research Area of Department of Entomology, University of Agriculture Faisalabad. Treatments were consisted of different combination of weeds and control group Total 228 samples were collected and from these samples 14 different taxons of soil arthropods were reported and from these taxons, mites showed high diversity index. Maximum diversity of soil arthropods was recorded (H´=2.07) from itsit + sawanki and minimum diversity of soil arthropods was recorded (H´=1.90) from itsit + chulai. Maximum mean  richness of soil arthropods ( S=3.18±0.24) was reported from Itsit+chulai, while minimum mean richness of soil arthropods (S=3±0.23) was reported from  Control group. Maximum mean abundance of soil arthropods (14.7±4.11) was reported from Itsit+sawanki while minimum mean abundance of soil arthropods (11.5±2.26) was reported from control group.