Microbial decomposition of leaf litter as influenced by pesticides

Abstract

The application of dithane M-45, 2, 4-D and carbofuran at the rates of 1, 5 and 10 mg (active ingredients) per g air-dry litter caused insignificant variations in the microbial populations in decomposing leaf litter. The qualitative nature of mycoflora, was altered, a little, with regard to the total number of species and relative abundance of a few species. The variations in CO2 evolution was significant only in relation to the fungicidal treatment. Percent weight loss of treated and untreated litter differed insignificantly at the end except in the case of fungicidal treatment. The present study infers that the used concentrations of the test pesticides may be recommended in tropical forestry as their application does not pose any potential threat to the process of natural decomposition of the leaf litter. © 1983 Martinus Nijhoff/Dr W. Junk Publishers.