Soil acidity and occurrence of soil macro-fauna among cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis fields

The present research work was conducted to accord "Diversity and relative abundance of soil macro-fauna among cauliflower treated (Brassica oleracea L. var. bortrytis) and cauliflower control (Brassica oleracea L. var. bortrytis) under the ecological conditions of district Faisalabad (Punjab), Pakistan. After completing the whole research trials as per lay down under procedure of study design, taxa composition was recorded as follow: among cauliflower control fields, total 36 species were counted pertaining to 09 orders, 25 families and 36 genera: whereas, among cauliflower treated fields, total 48 species were recorded belonging to 10 orders, 27 families and 44 genera. Among both fields, total 947 specimens were collected during entire sampling (7 sampling from each category) and maximum population was recorded from cauliflower control fields 66.35% (621) and least population was recorded from cauliflower treated fields i.e. 33.65% (315), wherein in case of cauliflower control fields, maximum population was recorded during 2nd sampling (188 plus minus 70.21), followed by 121 plus minus 22.83 (3rd sampling), 102 plus minus 9.40 (1st sampling) and so on, while, least and equal values were recorded during 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th sampling (11 plus minus 54.95). However, species abundance was recorded utmost and equal during 2nd and 3rd sampling (20 species) at temperature and humidity 43 degree C & 37 degree C and 18% & 27.5%, respectively. Nevertheless, least species abundance was recorded during 7th sampling i.e. 4 species at 38 degree C (temperature) and 43% (humidity). In case of cauliflower treated fields, maximum population was recorded during 4th sampling (94 plus minus 34.65), followed by 67 plus minus 15.56 (6th sampling), 38 plus minus 4.95 (5th sampling) and so on. While, least and equal values were recorded during 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 7th sampling (2 plus minus 30.41). Whereas, species abundance was recorded utmost in 4th and 6th sampling (27 species) at temperature and humidity 30 degree C, 39 degree C and 34.5%, 41.5%, respectively. However, least species abundance was recorded during 1st sampling i.e. 01 species at 31 degree C temperature and 34.5% humidity. However, from the overall findings, significant results were recorded in case of order Lepidoptera, and overall from cauliflower control fields, Succinea spp. (Succineidae) was recorded with maximum relative abundance 10.88% (N = 69), while, from cauliflower treated fields Cylistic convexus (Cylisticidae) was recorded with maximum relative abundance 15.87% (N = 50). Wherein from cauliflower control fields, genus Pheretima was recorded as an extraordinary contributing genus with relative abundance of (12.78%; N = 81) and among cauliflower treated fields, genus Cylisticus was recorded with highest relative abundance 15.87% (N = 50). But, from total of 11 recorded orders, 09 were recorded from cauliflower control fields and among them, higher relative abundance 31.23% (198) was recorded for order pulmonata, nevertheless, from total of 11 recorded orders, 10 were recorded from cauliflower treated fields and among them, higher relative abundance 38.73% (122) was recorded for order Isopoda. Diversity was recorded maximum among cauliflower control fields (1.0566) and least was recorded among cauliflower treated fields (1.0315). Diversity (maximum) was also higher among cauliflower control fields (2.8021) and least was recorded again in cauliflower treated fields (2.4983). Evenness ratio was also recorded in same context (0.1585 and 0.0788, respectively). However, richness was again recorded high among cauliflower control fields (14.2604) and least among cauliflower treated fields (10.8734). Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) between overall community composition sbowed non-significant results (F = 1.56; P = 0.2265), and Kruskal-Wallis test showed that predictions as like ANOVA (F = 1.56; P = 0. 2265).