28Optimizing the use of available soil management practices in oil palm plantations is crucial to 29 enhance long-term soil fertility and productivity. However, this needs a thorough 30 understanding of the functional responses of soil biota to these management practices. To 31 address this knowledge gap, we used bait lamina method to investigate the effects of different 32 soil management practices on soil fauna feeding activity, and whether feeding activity was 33 associated with management-mediated changes in soil chemical properties in a 15-year-old 34 oil palm plantation. We examined the four management zones (1) empty fruit bunch (EFB) 35 application along the sides of harvesting paths; (2) chemical fertilization within palm circles; 36 (3) understory vegetation with pruned fronds in inter-row areas; (4) no input in cleared part of 37 harvesting paths. Our results showed significantly higher soil fauna feeding activity under the 38

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19Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) is an important tropical crop which provides one-fifth of the 20 world's vegetable oil, yet its rapid expansion can negatively influence the soil ecosystem. 21Identifying suitable agronomic management such as crop residue application is important 22