Effects of Tillage on Soil Microarthropods in Winter Wheat

Abstract

A long-term tillage study plot was sampled to evaluate the effects of tillage on soil-dwelling microarthropods. Soil (300 cm3) was sampled on four dates during two growing seasons from conventional and no-till plots of winter wheat. Microarthropods were extracted using Tullgren funnels and enumerated into seven taxonomic categories: 1) Total abundance, 2) Oribatida, 3) Mesostigmata, 4) Prostigmata, 5) Astigmata, 6) Collembola, and 7) other invertebrates. Abundance within six of the seven groups was greater in no-till than conventionally tilled soil on seven of the eight sampling dates: 1) Total abundance in conventional till 6.44 ± 1.68 and 21.39 ± 5.35 in no-till, 2) Oribatida in conventional till 1.06 ± 0.36 and 7.33 ± 2.23 in no till, and 3) Other invertebrates in conventional till 4.50 ± 0.82 and 10.67 ± 2.85 in no till. The Mesostigmata and Collembola showed significant differences between conventionally tilled and no-till plots on multiple dates. In contrast, mites in the group Prostigmata were more abundant in conventionally tilled soil (3.89 ± 1.13 versus 2.00 ± 0.88 in no till). Abundance of soil microarthropods in no-till plots generally increased (21.39 ± 5.35 in Season 1 to 42.42 ± 4.59 in Season 2), which might indicate gradual recovery of the habitat. Assessments of soil quality in no-till agricultural systems should include evaluations of beneficial soil fauna such as microarthropods.