Abstract
In the present studies, Collembola populations were followed for one year in multiple crops agroecosystem of Faisalabad,
Pakistan. Four crops, viz., sugarcane, cotton, clover and wheat were selected. Sampling was done fortnightly by installing
pitfall traps in each crop area. The results revealed that maximum mean abundance of Collembola was found in clover
(36.74) followed by sugarcane (29.15), cotton (20.79) and wheat (16.52). Four species of Collembola (Isotoma decorata,
Xenylla indus, Seira indra and Sminthurus mime) were abundant in cotton followed by three (Xenylla indus, Seira indra and
Sminthurus mime) in sugarcane and two (Xenylla indus and Seira indra) each in clover and wheat. The proportionate
percentage of the abundance of Xenylla indus was 65% followed by 20% of Seira indra, 13% of Isotoma decorata and 2% of
Sminthurus mime throughout the sampling period taking together all the crops. The principal component analysis showed
significant effect of soil moisture and soil pH on the abundance of Collembola while the effect of soil temperature, relative
humidity and organic matter was non-significant. The abundance of Collembola was positively correlated with soil moisture
and organic matter in all the crops, soil temperature in wheat, relative humidity in sugarcane and cotton, soil pH in cotton
while negatively correlated with soil temperature in sugarcane, cotton and clover, relative humidity in clover and wheat, soil
pH in sugarcane, clover and wheat
