Paddy to Apple Conversion Boosts Soil Nematodes but Raises Biodiversity and Pest Concerns

Converting paddy fields to apple orchards in Kashmir changes soil life in mixed ways, according to a study in Kulgam district. Researchers found higher nematode abundance, biomass, and metabolic footprints in both conventional and high-density orchards, which suggests more carbon and energy moving through the soil food web. But order-level diversity dropped in conventional orchards, and the plant-parasitic index rose in both orchard types, pointing to a higher risk of root-feeding nematodes. These results do not mean orchard conversion is a carbon win. The study measured nematode activity, not total soil carbon storage or sequestration rates. For farmers and policymakers, the trade-off matters: more biological activity can come with less diversity and more pest pressure. The authors call for more work on how nematode functional traits relate to carbon sequestration.