Comparison of the effects of mulching with ectohumus and controlled micorrhi-zation on plants and mites (Acari) in the container production of scots pine seedlings

key words: container nursery, Scots pine, mulching with ectohumus, mycorrhization, Acari, Oribatida

Summary:

Experiments were carried out in 2012 at container nursery Bielawy (Forest District Dobrzejewice) in the production cycle of Scots pine seedlings (Pinus sylvestris L.) The height of seedlings ranged from 8.9 to 11.9 cm and the diameter was in the range 2.8-3.7 mm. Single ectomycorrhizas dominatem on roots of seedlings, and they constituted from 45 to 64% of all ectomycorrhizas. General state of mycorrhizae on roots can be considered as fairly balanced. Mean density of mites on examined clods with roots (with or without addition of forest ectohumus) ranged from 3 710 to 16 230 individuals • m-2. The most abundant mites on seed-lings produced with mulching were oribatid mites, and in variants without mulching dominated Actinedida. Non-mulched containers were characterized by occurrence of 2-3 species of oribatid mites, and those with mulching - by 10-14 oribatid species. Oppiella nova was the most abundant oribatid species in the examined material. Tectocepheus velatus was also the important component of Oribatida gatherings. The number of T. velatus was characterized by the upward trend in the cycle of investigation. On the basis of the study, it was found that the containers for production of seedlings with covered root system are characterized by good conditions for the development of soil mites. It creates a potential opportunity for the use of them for fauna enrichment on post-agricultural and degraded areas.

Citation:

Klimek A., Kowalska A., Rolbiecki S., Rolbiecki R. 2013, vol. 10. Comparison of the effects of mulching with ectohumus and controlled micorrhi-zation on plants and mites (Acari) in the container production of scots pine seedlings. Infrastruktura i Ekologia Terenów Wiejskich. Nr 2013, vol. 10/ 01 (3 (Mar 2013))