Nematode community composition under various irrigation schemes in a citrus soil ecosystem

interest in the sustainability of farming practices has increased in respon se to environmental problems associated with conventional agricultural mana gement often adopted for the production of herbaceous crops, ornamentals, a nd fruit crops. Availability of measures of the status of the soil ecosyste m is of immediate importance, particularly for environmental assessment and monitoring programs. This study investigated the effects of various irriga tion regimes (an example of an agricultural management practice) on the str ucture of the nematode fauna in a citrus orchard in the sandy ridge area of Central Florida. Ecological measures such as community structure indices, diversity indices, and maturity indices were assessed and related to irriga tion intensity. Maturity index ir Rs an effective measure in distinguishing differences between irrigation regimes, whereas other indices of community structure were not. Of various nematode genera and trophic groups, only om nivores and the omnivore genera. Aporcelaimellus and Eudorylaimus responded to irrigation treatments.