Soil Fauna (Microarthropods, Enchytraeids, Nematodes) in Swedish Agricultural Cropping Systems

Abstract

Soil mesofauna was investigated in 8 field experiments with different cropping systems in a 3-yr project, 1977-1979. The field experiments are mostly of long-term character and are situated in central and southern Sweden. The cropping systems represent common crop rotation and manuring practices in Swedish agriculture: rotations with and without leys (= perennial grass crops): 1-sided cereal cropping compared with diversified rotations of annuals: systems with and without farmyard manure; different levels of fertilizers, especially N fertilizers and effects of herbicides and fungicides (MCPA [(4-chloro-o-tolyl)oxyacetic acid], 2,4-D, 2,4,5-T, dinoseb and benomyl). Season, soil type, plant cover and intensity of soil cultivation may have greater influence on soil cultivation may have greater influence on soil faunal diversity and abundance than the studied experimental factors. This is clearly illustrated in a PCA [principle component analysis] ordination of the abundance data from all samplings. Intensive soil cultivation in cropping systems with only annuals is probably the main reason for arable soil having lower abundance of many soil faunal groups than old grasslands and many natural ecosystems. The sampling depth, sampling season and time delay between treatment and sampling should be observed when comparing results from different field experiments, as the results obtained are dependent on all these factors.