Earthworm communities in organic and conventional coffee cultivation

Abstract

-The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of organic and conventional coffee crops on biomass, population density and diversity of earthworms, in Lerroville, district of Londrina County, Paraná state, Brazil. Earthworm communities were sampled in three areas with organic coffee cultivation (CO1, CO2 and CO3), two with conventional coffee (CC1 and CC2), and a native forest fragment (MT). The soil of the areas CO1, CC1, and MT was classifi ed as Nitossolo Vermelho (Rhodic Kandiudox), while CO2, CO3, and CC2 were on Latossolo Vermelho (Rhodic Hapludox). Eight samples were taken in each area on two occasions, winter and summer, using the Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility (TSBF) method in the 0-20 cm soil layer. The earthworms were handsorted and preserved in 4% formaldehyde, and were later weighed, counted and identifi ed. The highest earthworm biomass, both in winter and summer, occurred in the CO3 area. For population density, the higher numbers of individuals were found in CO1 and CO3. The highest number of species was identifi ed in the organic cultivation. The adoption of organic practices in coffee cultivation favored the diversity, density and biomass of earthworm communities.Index terms: biomass, conventional cultivation, diversity, Oligochaeta, organic cultivation, population density. Comunidades de minhocas em cultivo de café orgânico e convencionalResumo -O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do cultivo de café orgânico e convencional sobre a biomassa, densidade populacional e diversidade de minhocas em Lerroville, distrito de Londrina, Paraná. A comunidade de minhocas foi avaliada em três áreas de cultivo orgânico (CO1, CO2, CO3), duas áreas em cultivo convencional (CC1 e CC2) e um fragmento de mata nativa (MT). O solo das áreas CO1, CC1 e MT foi classifi cado como Nitossolo Vermelho e o solo das áreas CO2, CO3 e CC2 como Latossolo Vermelho. Oito amostras foram coletadas em cada área, em dois períodos, inverno e verão, pelo método do Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility (TSBF), na camada 0-20 cm. As minhocas foram separadas manualmente e preservadas em formol 4%, e, depois, foram pesadas, contadas e identifi cadas. A biomassa das minhocas, nas amostragens de inverno e de verão, foi maior na área CO3. A densidade populacional foi maior nas áreas CO1 e CO3. O maior número de espécies foi identifi cado nos cultivos orgânicos. A adoção de práticas orgânicas, no cultivo do café, favoreceu a diversidade, densidade populacional e biomassa das comunidades de minhocas.Termos para indexação: biomassa, cultivo convencional, diversidade, Oligochaeta, cultivo orgânico, densidade populacional.

Soil macrofauna in organic and conventional coffee plantations in Brazil

“…Some pesticides used in coffee plantations in CS have Cu in their composition, and increased amounts of this element may cause negative impacts on earthworms and many other soil invertebrates. In minimum tillage and conventional coffee plantations, respectively, Zaller et al 2014and Bartz et al (2009) report some evidence of detrimental effects of the herbicide glyphosate and of copper-based fungicides on earthworms.…”

“…In conventional agricultural systems with the highest use intensity, earthworm communities often are harmed directly by the aggressive tillage practices or indirectly through decreases in food supply (Falco et al 2015). OS coffee plantations resulted in an evident increase of earthworm abundance when compared to CS; thus, Bartz et al (2009) found higher numbers and diversity of adult and juvenile earthworms in organic coffee plantations in winter (July). In our study, we found greater adult earthworm density in summer, whereas, in winter, there was a greater contribution of juveniles in both cultivation systems (Table 5), showing the importance of the addition of young specimens to the edaphic community.…”

“…Organic management practices are particularly favorable for increasing P. corethrurus and Amynthas sp. populations (Bartz et al 2009). Aquino et al (2008), when surveying earthworm populations, also found great diversity, including P. corethrurus, which is an exotic and cosmopolitan species.…”

“…Many biological processes are favored in organically managed farms (Glover et al 2000), as higher root colonization by mycorrhizal fungi (Lamine & Bellon 2009), constant transformation of organic materials, resulting in a greater stock of mineral nutrients and microbial activity (Scherr & McNeely 2008). As reported by Bartz et al (2009), in Brazil, few studies have been carried out to assess and compare the impact of organic and conventional systems on soil fauna populations under coffee plantations.…”

Soil Macrofauna and Edaphic Properties in Coffee Production Systems in Southern Colombia

“…A lower density of Oligochaeta group in systems with intensive management can be explained by the use of herbicides (García-Pérez et al, 2014) and pesticides (Bartz et al, 2009). In fact, there would be expected a greater occurrence of Oligochaeta in more sustainable management systems, such as the organic management (Lammel et al, 2015).…”