Populations of surface-living Collembola of a 5-year-old fallow were monitored with pitfall traps before and after clearing of vegetation, after ploughing and harrowing and during the different growth phases of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) with and without weed-control measures. Overall, 8 genera of Collembola were identified in the study site. Songhaica nigeriana was the most abundant species in the study site before clearing. After clearing, the relative abundance of the different genera of Collembola was altered and after ploughing and harrowing, fewer species were recorded. After ploughing, Songhaica nigeriana, Dicyrtoma, Cryptophygus and Sminthurinus spp. were not obtained in the study site. During the vegetative growth phase, Collembola populations remained low in the herbicide-treated plots. The community structures of Collembola varied among the treatments, and temporal changes in the relative abundance of the different genera of Collembola were observed.
