The Effect of Fertilizer Regime on Soil Fauna

Abstract

Soil fauna activity in agricultural soil is a key factor to maintain soil fertility and to assure soil ecosystem services. It is now accepted that agricultural practices like tillage and pesticide use can harm soil organisms including earthworms and springtails. Other practices like the use of green manure or animal manure have been considered as being beneficial to these soil invertebrates. To deepen our knowledge on the effect of fertilizers (mineral and organic) on earthworms (Aporrectodea caliginosa and Lumbricus terrestris) and springtails (Folsomia candida) 56 microcosm experiments were made with two soil types and two hydric regimes. The microcosms were amended with four fertilizers: ammonium nitrate, mustard as green manure, cow manure and slurry. The results emphasize that mustard use had beneficial effect on Folsomia candida abundance and Aporrectodea caliginosa biomass, while mineral fertilizer had negative effects for all species used in the experiment.

Nitrogen Enriched Organic Fertilizer (NEO) and Its Effect on Ryegrass Yield and Soil Fauna Feeding Activity under Controlled Conditions

“…However, the other valid argument is increased food availability for the soil fauna through fertilizers, whereas the soil fauna has no interest in consuming bait material in the strips. Contrasting the outcomes of this study, field studies have indicated positive effects of mineral fertilizer on soil fauna, presumably through increasing nutrient availability and enhancing plant productivity [45,46], and organic fertilizer through their advantages for plant production systems [47,48]. Therefore, we argue that other factors than fertilization alone may explain our result and affect the result.…”

Soil Properties and Macrofauna Community in a Converted Intensive Rice Field into an Organic Polyculture in Malang Regency, Indonesia

“…According to [61] 15 years of farmyard manure treatment might increase soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, and microbial activity through enzyme assays. The farmyard manure might also increase the abundance and biomass of soil fauna through the soil organic matter [62][63][64][65][66][67]. The diversity of crops might also contribute by providing several microhabitats for soil fauna with different niches, including food sources, thus maintaining the food web in the ecosystem [68].…”

No-Till Technology as a Factor of Activity of Soil Invertebrate in Agricultural Chernozems of Stavropol Region

“…При внесении удобрений как на вспаханных полях, так и на делянках no-till дождевые черви не были обнаружены под культурами озимой пшеницы, кукурузы и подсолнечника. Хорошо известно, что внесение минеральных удобрений губительно влияет на почвенную макрофауну (24), в особенности на дождевых червей, поскольку их тело не защищено хитиновым или известковым покровом, как у большинства других групп беспозвоночных (25). Черви на полях с удобрениями были выявлены только на делянках гороха.…”