Nematode communities in greenhouse soil of different ages from Shenyang suburb

The distribution of nematode communities with depth in greenhouse soil of different ages from Shenyang suburb was investigated in October 2004. Thirteen families and 23 genera were observed in our study. Heterocephalobus was dominant genus in all treatments. The numbers of total nematodes and trophic groups declined with soil depth but increased with greenhouse age. Bacterivores were the most abundant trophic group in all treatments, followed by plant parasites and omnivores-predators, while fungivores were the least, only accounted for less than 4 % of the total abundance. Maturity index (MI) and plant parasite index (PPI) were effective in distinguishing differences in nematode community structure in different ages of greenhouses. The numbers of total nematodes were positively correlated with soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, nitrate, and electrolytic conductivity, but negatively with soil pH.