Effect of compost and chemical fertilizer on soil nematode community in a Chinese maize field

Nematode density and biodiversity in maize field soil treated with compost, chemical fertilizer and with no amendments were investigated in a multi-year field experiment at the Qu-Zhou experimental station, China Agricultural University. The soils were collected from the upper (0–20 cm) soil layer during the maize growing stages in 2004. The results demonstrated that significant differences for the total nematode density, bacterivores, fungivores, plant parasites and omnivores-predators density were found between treatments and between dates. The total nematode density and bacterivores density were greater in compost-treated soil than in chemical fertilizer-treated soil, and were greater in chemical fertilizer-treated soil than in control soil during all sampling periods. The total nematodes density ranged from 106 to 657 individuals per 100 g dry soil in the present study. Total 40 nematode genera were found in all treatments and sampling periods, and 12 genera were bacterivores, 4 genera were fungivores, 16 genera were plant parasites and 8 genera were omnivores-predators. Cephalobus, Rhabditis, Tylenchorhynchus, Pratylenchus, Helicotylenchus and Rotylenchus were dominant genera in present study. The plant parasites and bacterivores were dominant trophic groups. The ratio of bacterivores plus fungivores to plant parasites was higher in compost-treated soil compared to chemical fertilizer-treated soil except October. Maturity index and combined maturity index were lower in compost-treated soil compared to chemical fertilizer-treated and control soil except July. The plant parasite index was higher in compost-treated soil compared to chemical fertilizer-treated soil except July. The multi-year application of compost and chemical fertilizer had effected on soil nematode population density and community structure.