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Comparison of Soil Biology Quality in Organically and Conventionally Managed Agro-Ecosystems Using Microarthropods

Author

Listed:
  • Cristina Mantoni

    (Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, Via Vetoio, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy)

  • Marika Pellegrini

    (Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, Via Vetoio, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy)

  • Leonardo Dapporto

    (Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019 Firenze, Italy)

  • Maria Maddalena Del Gallo

    (Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, Via Vetoio, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy)

  • Loretta Pace

    (Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, Via Vetoio, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy)

  • Donato Silveri

    (Regione Abruzzo, Ufficio Attività Culturali di Sulmona e Castel di Sangro—Centro Regionale Beni Culturali, Via Passolanciano 75, 65124 Pescara, Italy)

  • Simone Fattorini

    (Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, Via Vetoio, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy)

Abstract

Since management practices profoundly influence soil characteristics, the adoption of sustainable agro-ecological practices is essential for soil health conservation. We compared soil health in organic and conventional fields in the Abruzzi region (central Italy) by using (1) the soil biology quality (QBS) index (which expresses the level of specialisation in soil environment shown by microarthropods) and (2) microarthropod diversity expressed by Hill numbers. QBS values were calculated using both the original formulation based on only presence/absence data and a new abundance-based version. We found that organic management improves soil biology quality, which encourages the use of organic farming to maintain soil health. Including arthropod abundance in QBS calculation does not change the main outcomes, which supports the use of its original, speedier formulation. We also found that agricultural fields included in protected areas had greater soil health, which shows the importance of the matrix in determining agricultural soil health and highlights the importance of land protection in preserving biodiversity even in managed soils. Finally, we found that soil biology quality and microarthropod community structure are distinctly influenced by certain physical and chemical characteristics of the soil, which supports the use of microarthropods as biological indicators.

Suggested Citation

  • Cristina Mantoni & Marika Pellegrini & Leonardo Dapporto & Maria Maddalena Del Gallo & Loretta Pace & Donato Silveri & Simone Fattorini, 2021. "Comparison of Soil Biology Quality in Organically and Conventionally Managed Agro-Ecosystems Using Microarthropods," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-18, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:11:y:2021:i:10:p:1022-:d:659653
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Thomas W. Culliney, 2013. "Role of Arthropods in Maintaining Soil Fertility," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 3(4), pages 1-31, September.
    2. Caprio, Enrico & Nervo, Beatrice & Isaia, Marco & Allegro, Gianni & Rolando, Antonio, 2015. "Organic versus conventional systems in viticulture: Comparative effects on spiders and carabids in vineyards and adjacent forests," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 61-69.
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