~ 843 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2017; 5(1): 843-846 E-ISSN: 2320-7078 P-ISSN: 2349-6800 JEZS 2017; 5(1): 843-846 © 2017 JEZS Received: 23-11-2016 Accepted: 24-12-2016 Aijaz Ahmad Sheikh Division of Entomology Sheri-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar (J&K), India GM Lone Division of Entomology Sheri-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar (J&K), India NZ Rehman Division of Soil Science Sheri-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar (J&K), India Tariq A Bhat Division of Vegetable Science Sheri-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar (J&K), India Muneer A Sofi Division of Entomology Sheri-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar (J&K), India Mohammad Amin Bhat Department of Soil Science CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar India Sajad un Nabi ICAR-CITH, Srinagar Sheri-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar (J&K), India Correspondence Aijaz Ahmad Sheikh Division of Entomology Sheri-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar (J&K), India Vertical distribution of soil arthropods in apple ecosystem of Kashmir Aijaz Ahmad Sheikh, GM Lone, NZ Rehman, Tariq A Bhat, Muneer A Sofi, Mohammad Amin Bhat and Sajad un Nabi Abstract Soil arthropod population abundance in soil relies on the number of factors (biotic interactions such as competition and predation, presence or absence of organic matter, physiochemical features of the soil such as temperature, moisture, compaction and pH) which change from layer to layer in soil. These factors lead in vertical stratifications and ultimately changes the vertical distribution of soil fauna. The vertical distribution of arthropods extracted from soil in the apple ecosystem of Kashmir was investigated for the period of May 2013 to March 2014. Apple orchard soil was sampled at depths 0-15 cm, 16-30 cm and 31-45 cm. Population abundance of soil fauna showed maximum population in the upper depth in each month. Moreover, highest (16.33 individuals/sample) were reported in the month of August and lowest (1.33 individuals/sample) were recorded in February in the upper depth. Further, The mean monthly relative abundance of soil arthropods showed 46.15-66.66% population confined upto 0-15 cm depth followed by 16-30 cm depth 25.92-35.24% population and lowest percentage of population 12.90- 21.43% was recorded at 31-45 cm depth. Keywords: Abundance, ecosystem, soil arthropods, vertical distribution, depth 1. Introduction Soil is the most composite, mixed, diverse and heterogeneous organization that leads to emergence of huge number of ecological niches and is abode of large number of living organisms that carry out crucial processes in the soil ecosystem [1] . In the soil, fauna perform important processes like degradation of organic biomass, mobilization of nutrients and enhancement of soil physicochemical properties [2] . Besides they regulate central functions vital to plants such as maintenance of pest populations below the economic injury levels and agrochemical disintegration. Soil fauna (micro fauna; protozoa, bacteria, meso fauna; Acarina, Symphyla, Collembola, Diplura and macro fauna; Chilopoda, Coleoptera, Orthoptera, Hymenoptera) interactions perform vital functions in a number of biological processes around the rhizosphere and within vicinity of decomposing organic matter. Plant materials get incorporated into the soil through two modes viz. above-ground litter materials found on surface of the soil and through root system belowground [3] . Soil arthropod population abundance in soil relies on the number of factors (biotic interactions such as competition and predation, presence or absence of organic matter, physiochemical features of the soil such as temperature, moisture, compaction and pH) which change from layer to layer in soil, these factors lead in vertical stratifications and changes the vertical distribution of soil fauna [4] . A considerable change in distribution of soil fauna has been found mainly by vertical stratification as compared to the horizontal or temporal variations [5] . But so far population abundance of soil fauna has been poorly studied, in spite of their role in understanding the interlink among surface litter and deeper soil layers [6] . Among the soil fauna, micro- arthropods and earthworms have received special emphasis for studying the vertical distribution [7, 8] , only few studies are based on vertical distribution of macro arthropods [9, 10] . In a study on faunistic composition in different soils, Acarina and Collembola was recorded 67 per cent in upper 15 cm of soil, while 33 per cent in 15-30 cm horizon of soil [11] . On studying the vertical distribution of micro-arthropods in soil, 33% individuals were recorded upto 15.2 cm depth and 24% micro-arthropods were found at 15.2-30.5 cm depth, while 20% were recorded below 46 cm depth [12] . On sampling soil at depths 0-5 cm, 5-10 cm, 10-20 cm and litter, in order to investigate the seasonal and vertical distribution of Acarina fauna. Maximum percentage 43% of mites were collected from the litter layer followed by 20-36% individuals