Success StoryBio-solids, Poultry and Swine Manure Amendments Affect Population Densities of Soil Mites on Corn and Wheat Fields in Western Kentucky



Bio-solids, Poultry and Swine Manure Amendments Affect Population Densities of Soil Mites on Corn and Wheat Fields in Western Kentucky

Author: Raul Villanueva

Planning Unit: Entomology

Major Program: Grain Crops

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

Mr. Muhammad Asif Qayyoum visited the Princeton’s REC from April to October 2016 (six months) to fulfill one of the requisites to complete his Doctoral Program in Pakistan. He completed this research evaluating the effects of Bio-solids, Poultry and Swine Manure Amendments on Population Densities of Soil Mites on Corn and Wheat Fields in Western Kentucky. He found that under poultry manure soil mites had larger population compared to Swine > Biosolids > Synthetic fertilizers > untreated control. This is appositive finding on view that the presence of these class of mites is an indicator of the environmental health of an agricultural soil system. In addition, a peer-reviewed publication is being written currently, and that this was a cooperative multidisciplinary project with Dr. Edwin Ritchie of the Department of Plant and Soil Science in Princeton. Also, Mr. Qayyoum wrote a short scientific note that has published in the Kentucky Pest News Newsletter (https://kentuckypestnews.wordpress.com/2016/08/30/bio-solids-poultry-swine-manure-amendments-affect-population-densities-of-soil-mites-on-corn-wheat-fields-in-western-kentucky/).