Evaluation of Soil Ecosystem Health in Different Farming Systems by Observing Diversity of Soil Arthropods

Abstract

Organic or natural farming practices are known to promote soil fertility as well as biological diversity. Organic matter recycling, multiple cropping and ecological corridors are available as reservoirs for biological control agents such as predators or parasitic insects. These practices allow ecosystem services to reduce the presence of phytophagous insects and microorganisms. The objective of this study is to analyze the effect of the different farming systems on the diversity of arthropods. The sampling of arthropods was performed by pitfall trap method. The traps buried at surface level of the ground were set at 3.5 m intervals for 24 hours in the line of the cultivated crops. In addition to this method, Tullgren funnel method is applied in this study. In the experimental results, there were no significant differences in richness and abundance of observed arthropods. In the natural farming system, taxonomic group of Araneae, Acari and Coleoptera was observed. In the conventional farming system, the group of Formicidae was dominant. Using the Simpson’s (inverse) index and Shannon- Weaver’s index, the diversity was calculated. The results indicated there was more diversity of arthropods in the natural farming compared to conventional farming system. It is evident that agricultural practices (natural or conventional) may affect the diversity of arthropods within an agroecosystem.