Occurrence of Oribatid Mites During the Revitalization of Bare Root Forest Nursery

Andrzej Klimek*, Stanisław Rolbiecki*, Roman Rolbiecki*, Piotr Stachowski**, Cezary Podsiadło***
*UTP University of Science and Technology, Poland; **University of Life Science in Poznań, Poland; ***West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, Poland
corresponding author’s e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract
The study was conducted in the years 2008-2010 in the bare root  nursery Białe Błota that produced pine, beech and linden, and belonged to Bydgoszcz Forest District. The experiments included the following variants: C – control, O – organic fertilization, M – mulching with raw humus, OM – organic fertilization and mulching with raw humus. Relatively small but significant increase in the number and diversity of Oribatida species was observed in O variant for the deciduous trees. Mulching was the soil revitalization method that clearly improved the density and biodiversity of Oribatida species. In total, the investigated area harbored 37 species of oribatid mites. The most effective bioindicator and stimulant of soil revitalization was a common fungivorous species Tectocepheus velatus.

Keywords 
organic fertilization, mulching, tree seedlings, bioindication, oribatid mites.

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