Response of arthropod community in rice field to soil ameliorates

The response of arthropod community in rice field to bamboo charcoal, attapulgite and wood charcoal soil ameliorates used to absorb pollutants and amend soil physical and chemical properties was investigated. Relative to the control, individual numbers of araneae, especially the dominant species Coleosoma octomaculatum, increased significantly in fields treated with the three soil ameliorates. The number of C. octomaculatum was over four times higher in both bamboo charcoal and attapulgite treated fields, and over three times higher in wood charcoal treated fields than in the control field. Also compared with the control, individual numbers of phytaphagous insects dropped significantly in fields treated with the three soil ameliorates. The numbers of the target pest Nilaparvata lugens in bamboo charcoal, attapulgite and wood charcoal treated fields were respectively 15%, 10% and 20% of the control field. While araneae dominance significantly increased, that of phytaphagous insects significantly decreased in ameliorated fields. Whereas arthropod community diversity significantly increased in the first year, it was not significantly affected in subsequent year in both bamboo charcoal and attapulgite treated fields. The diversity and complexity of arthropod community in wood charcoal treated fields significantly increased with each passing year. This improved the stability of paddy field ecosystems.