Effects of different soil compost and aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) density on the growth and development of Cedrus libani a. rich

Decent and healthy growth of plants in soil is related to the soil medium's physical and chemical properties. Plants also display diverse defense reactions and growth curves against the insects that feed on their sap. In this study, vegetative growth parameters, chemical and physical content changes of soil and plant, and population density of the aphid, Cinara cedri, on Cedar (Cedrus libani L.) seedlings grown in four different soil treatments infected with Cinara cedri Mimeur 1936 (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea) was investigated. Ten two-year-old cedar seedlings were grown in control (Ck), worm-added (Cs), fertilized(Cg) and worm-added and fertilized(Csg) soils. Cinara cedri aphid colonization was considerably less on cedar seedlings grown in worm-added soils. A marked increase in the number of Cedar shoots grown in Csg soils (13.5 +/- 2.5) and an increase in seedling length (10.3 +/- 6.5) was moderately greater in Cs than in the other soils. Clay content was the highest in Ck and lowest in Csg soils while organic matter content was the greatest in Cs and lowest in Cg soils. The salt, pH, and total lime content were significantly greater in Cs, Cg, and Csg soils than in Ck soils. It can be concluded that adding worms and fertilizers into the soils may improve plant growth and prevent damage to plants caused by pests.

Automated summary

The study investigated the population density of the aphid, Cinara cedri, on Cedar seedlings grown in four different soil treatments. It was found that cedar seedlings grown in worm-added soils had considerably less aphid colonization. Additionally, the cedar shoots grown in soils with both worms and fertilizers showed a marked increase in growth compared to other soils.