Tillage system does not affect soil macrofauna in southeastern Buenos Aires province, Argentina

P L Manetti,A J Faberi,A N Lopez,N L Clemente

doi:10.5424/sjar/2010082-1189

P L Manetti, A J Faberi + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5424/sjar/2010082-1189

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Abstract

Soil degradation increased incessantly in the Pampas region of Argentina, due to the intensification of agricultural activities, when carried out with conventional tillage (CT) systems. No-tillage system was adopted as conservation practices by the farmers. The objectives of this study were: a) to determine the macrofauna taxa and their relative abundance under CT and NT in two different seasons; and b) to evaluate soil tillage and seasonal effects on the density of the main macrofauna taxa. The study was conducted from 2002 to 2004 in 46 production farms, in Balcarce, Argentina. Ten soil monoliths (25.2 cm side; 30 cm depth) ramdomly directed field at July-August; and at October-November to determine the number of individuals of macrofauna and Enchytraeidae. Soil macrofauna density did not differ between tillage systems. Oligochaeta Megadrilli density was generally not affected by the tillage system (P>0.05) except in 2004 when it was greater under CT in July-August (P=0.0002). Chilopoda density was greater in soils under NT, with significant differences in 2002 in October-November (P=0.0070). In July-August of 2003 it was higher in CT (P=0.0109). Diplopoda were more abundant only under NT in July-August 2004 (P=0.0010). In July-August a significantly (P

Highlights

Since the 1980s the increased agricultural activities in Argentina and in the Pampas region were accompanied by the use of intensive tillage systems (Studdert, 2003; Manuel-Navarrete et al, 2005)
Forty-six fields were sampled under Conventional tillage (CT) or NT was studied in Balcarce (Buenos Aires, Argentina) in production farms with at least five years under NT
Land is mainly devoted to extensive crop production; the soil was developed under grass vegetation, and eolic sediments, which were transported during the Quaternary period and are rich in calcareous materials

Summary

Introduction

Since the 1980s the increased agricultural activities in Argentina and in the Pampas region were accompanied by the use of intensive tillage systems (Studdert, 2003; Manuel-Navarrete et al, 2005). Conventional tillage (CT) systems were characterized by an excessive use of plowing, chiseling and/or harrow disking, leading to soil degradation and erosion (Studdert and Echeverría, 2000; Miccuci and Taboada, 2006) This accelerated soil erosion and other degradation processes influence agronomic productivity and the environment through their impact on the physical, chemical and biological factors related to soil quality (Lal et al, 2007). Farmers have been adopting sustainable cropping systems based on conservation agricultural practices such as direct drilling or no-tillage (NT). These systems are expected to improve physical and chemical soil properties and enhance soil microorganism activity (Pankhurst et al, 1997). Adopting NT practices directly or indirectly modifies the taxonomic composition of the soil fauna (Stinner and House, 1990; Fereres Castiel, 1998)

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