'n Stratigrafiese ondersoek van die grondmesofauna in suikerrietplantasies en onverstoorde grond in Zoeloeland

Abstract

On the farm Waterloo E state, Mtunzini district, Zululand, a large portion of the original natural forest was cut and the deforested areas were subsequently cultivated. The present investigation was carried out on two biotopes, viz. cultivated land, where the original forest was replaced by sugar cane and in the virgin soil of tho indigenous forest . One of the major objects of the study was to determine the effects on the soil mesofauna when a virgin soil is brought under cultivation. The results proved that the soil fauna is adversely affected when natural forest is replaced by sugar cane plantations. A further object of this investigation was to determine the ecological factors influencing the distribution pattern of soil micro-arthropods. It was proved that no correlation could be drawn between the increase or decrease of the soil water content, the inorganic matter in the soil, p H values and the number and variety of animals present. There was, however, a definite connection as to the seasonal fluctuations and the numerical changes of the soil faunal numbers. The increase of numbers of most of the groups were directly proportional to increases in temperature, and numerical peaks were reached during the winter in the natural forest . The variations of peaks in the sugar cane land were so numerous, that no definite conclusions could be drawn.