ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Effects of different management practices of organic uphill grasslands on the abundance and diversity of soil mesofauna
1
Department of Plant Protection, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
A - Research concept and design; B - Collection and/or assembly of data; C - Data analysis and interpretation; D - Writing the article; E - Critical revision of the article; F - Final approval of article
Submission date: 2018-06-21
Acceptance date: 2018-12-03
Corresponding author
Iwona Gruss
Department of Plant Protection, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Plac Grunwaldzki, 24A, 50-363 Wrocław, Poland
Department of Plant Protection, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Plac Grunwaldzki, 24A, 50-363 Wrocław, Poland
Journal of Plant Protection Research 2018;58(4):376-380
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
In this study the effect of different grassland managements (cattle grazing with different
intensities and mowing) on soil mesofauna, i.e. mites (Acari) and springtails (Collembola),
was studied. Mites and springtails are the most numerous representatives of soil mesofauna
organisms living in the upper soil layers (up to 5 cm). Soil mesofauna groups or species are
commonly used as bioindicators of soil health. The experiment was carried out from 2007
to 2009 in the West Sudety Mountains, Poland. Pastures and meadows were under organic
farming management, without pesticides or synthetic fertilizers, and restricted livestock
density. Soil samples were taken three times a year (in May−June, July and October) from
pastures grazed at different frequencies: once, twice and four times a year, alternate management
(grazed and mown pasture) and mown meadow. Mites were identified according
to orders or suborders (Oribatida, Gamasida, Prostigmata, Astigmata), while springtails to
the species level. The data were analysed using a general linear model (GLM). The mesofauna
taxa in relation to the treatment and date were analysed with the canonical correspondence
analysis (CCA). The data from three years showed that most soil mesofauna assemblages
occurred in significantly higher numbers on the pasture grazed once or twice and
on alternate managed pasture than in pasture grazed four times a year and mown meadow.
The CCA analysis showed the preference of most springtail species to pasture grazed once
a year, while mites preferred pasture grazed twice a year and alternate management. The
number of species and the abundance of the most numerous species (Protaphorura pannonica,
Desoria multisetis and Folsomides parvulus) did not differ significantly between
treatments. To summarize, cattle grazing once or twice a season or alternate management
(grazing and mowing once a season) have a positive impact on soil mesofauna.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors have declared that no conflict of interests exist.
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