Soil physical properties and abundance of soil fauna in conventional and organic rice field

Abstract

Land management affected the physical, chemical and abundance of soil fauna. The aim of the study was to know differences of soil physical properties and abundance of soil fauna in conventional and organic rice field. Another aimed to know long term effect of organic farming to soil physical properties and abundance of soil fauna inrice field. This experiment used nested design which 3 location of sampling. The first location was in Imogiri Subdistrict with conventional rice field and 6 years of organic rice field applied. The second location was in Mojogedang Subdistrict with conventional rice field and 4 years of organic rice field applied. The third location was in Sawangan Subdisctrict with conventional rice field, 4 years and 10 years of organic rice field applied. Soil sample was taken in condition of after plough before planting, maximum plant vegetative phase and after harvesting. Organic rice field gave trend increased percentage of silt fraction and reduced percentage of sand fraction, increased aggregate stability of soil, increased abundance of earthworm, reduced abundance of plant parasitic nematode and increased non-parasitic nematode and increased soil respiration. Organic farming gave trend improving soil physical, chemical and biological parameters.