Combined effects of cropping types and simulated extreme precipitation on the community composition and diversity of soil macrofauna in the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Abstract

Extreme precipitation as global change greatly affects above- and below-ground biodiversity. Soil macrofauna play a key role in the agroforestry ecosystem processes. Extreme precipitation might negatively impact soil macrofauna by changing soil water content. Particularly, whether cropping types are beneficial to alleviate response of soil macrofauna to extreme precipitation remains unexplored. Effects of simulated extreme precipitation of 1 month on soil macrofauna were studied under Chinese prickly ash (Zanthoxylum bungeanum) intercropped with soybean (Glycine max), Chinese prickly ash intercropped with sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum), and Chinese prickly ash monoculture. Soil macrofauna and soil samples were collected in three soil depths (0–10, 10–20, and 20–30 cm) per plot. The abundance, diversity, and vertical distribution of soil macrofauna were analyzed for each sample at genus and trophic level. Each sieved soil sample was analyzed for soil water content, soil nitrate nitrogen (NO3−–N), ammonium nitrogen (NH4+–N) and organic matter. Descriptive statistics and significance tests on raw data were carried out using the SPSS 16.0 software at P < 0.05. A total of 502 soil macrofauna individuals were observed, and belonged to 14 genera, and consisted mainly of earthworms, arthropods. The richness, density, and biomass, as well as vertical distribution of total soil macrofauna were unaffected by extreme precipitation. Only Eisenia density and biomass were significantly decreased by extreme precipitation. The plots intercropped with soybean had higher density, biomass, and richness than the plots intercropped with sweet pepper and prickly ash monoculture. Cropping types significantly influenced density of total soil macrofauna under control condition but not extreme precipitation treatment. The abundance of total soil macrofauna was significantly and positively related to soil NH4+–N, total soil inorganic N, and soil organic matter. Our results suggest that the impacts of cropping types rather than extreme precipitation on soil macrofauna abundance, diversity, and vertical distribution are significant. However, extreme precipitation changes the response of soil macrofauna to cropping types.