Effects of Insecticides on Soil Arthropods in the Rice Crop Ecosystem

Abstract

It is known that soil fauna performs a critical role in the biological turnover and nutrient release from plant residue. The presence of pollutants in the soil leads to disruptions that cause both qualitative and quantitative changes in the fauna, ultimately impacting soil functioning. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the impact of different insecticides on non-target soil arthropods, with a focus on collembolan populations, which made up 42.57% of the total recorded soil arthropods in the rice cropping ecosystem. All insecticide treatments led to significant reductions in collembolan numbers, with the combinations of Fipronil 15% + Imidacloprid 5% SC and Fipronil 15% + Indoxacarb 5 % SC causing the most substantial decreases in the total population mean of 2.71 and 2.75, respectively. In contrast, Chlorantraniliprole 20% SC had the least effect in the total population mean 4.06, indicating a potentially lower risk to non-target species. According to these results the potential adverse impacts of insecticides on soil health, emphasizing the need of careful selection of pest management strategies to preserve soil biodiversity and maintain ecological balance.