Edaphic Fauna Associated with Areas Managed under no-till with and without Terraces

Abstract

Conservation soil management systems can promote beneficial changes in the edaphic fauna, which is important in improving and maintaining soil quality. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the edaphic fauna in two areas with soils managed under no-till with and without terraces for four years. The edaphic fauna was evaluated by installing 32 pitfall trapsin each experimental plot. After seven days, the traps were removed, and the sampled individuals were classified at the level of major taxonomic groups. Collembola, Acari, Formicidae, Coleoptera, and Araneae were the most abundant in both study areas. The mean abundance of the order Coleoptera stood out in the no-till system with terraces in 2021, while the orders Collembola and Acari were more abundant without terraces in 2019 and 2021, and 2021 and 2022, respectively. There was a greater abundance of organisms for both areas in 2021, with significant equitability in the no-till system with terraces. Thus, the results showed that only some groups are positively affected by mechanical erosion control.

Keywords:
Conservation agriculture; soil fauna; soil management; terracing

HIGHLIGHTS

The no-tillage system without terrace favors the abundance of the Collembola and Acari groups;

The no-tillage system with terracing positively affects the order Coleoptera;

The no-tillage system with terracing presents more promising results in terms of biological equitability.