Arthropod Community Structure Indicating Soil Quality Recovery in the Organic Agroecosystem of Mount Ciremai National Park’s Buffer Zone

Abstract

<a name="_Hlk128052096"></a><a name="_Hlk128036424"></a><span lang="EN-US">The</span><span lang="EN-US"> Mount Ciremai National Park (TNGC) buffer zone is designed to support conservation efforts. However, agriculture in this area is dominated by conventional farming that excessively uses synthetic fertilizers, which threatens soil quality. Introducing an organic fertilizer and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) is expected to enhance soil quality recovery in this area. This study aimed to analyze the differences in soil arthropod communities between organic and conventional agriculture and a forest in the TNGC buffer zone to assess soil quality improvement generated by the application of the organic fertilizer and PGPR. Soil arthropods were collected with Berlese-Tullgren funnels and pitfall traps. Several associated environmental parameters, including soil pH, C-organic, temperature, and moisture, were also measured. Data were analyzed using ecological indices (i.e., richness, diversity, evenness, dominance, similarity) and soil biological quality (QBS-ar). Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) was performed to examine the relation of arthropods with environmental parameters. In total, 957 individuals of soil arthropods belonging to four classes and 15 orders were recorded. Berlese-Tullgren and pitfall traps resulted in a similar tendency in most variables, with higher richness, diversity, and evenness values in the forest, followed by organic and conventional habitats. In addition, similarity and QBS-ar indicated that forest and organic communities were more similar than conventional community. C-organic, soil moisture and pH were considered the most deciding environmental parameters for arthropod assemblages. All measured variables in this study illustrated better soil quality in organic than in conventional agriculture. This study implicates the benefit of utilizing organic fertilizers and PGPR for soil quality restoration in agroecosystems.</span>

Impact of Cropland Management on Invertebrate Richness and Abundance in Agroforestry Systems in Bali, Indonesia

“…These taxa are important in the digestion of organic matter, and as a result, they play a key role in nutrient cycling. Additionally, in a recent study by Kurniawan et al [59], when comparing conventional and agroforest systems, they found that Zygentoma were entirely absent in conventional croplands, indicating a sensitivity to agrochemicals. It is unsurprising to see significantly higher Hemiptera richness with increasing crop richness, as Hemiptera are significant crop pests.…”

The distribution of soil fertility index and its interaction with earthworms density under organic, semi-organic, and inorganic rice fields

“…In addition to these factors, the period of implementation of organic management at the research site, which has only been implemented for approximately 2 years, since 2020, also has the potential to have an impact on the research results obtained. According to Chabert and Sarthou (2020) and Kurniawan et al (2023) on agricultural land, changes to the management system take several years to create an ecological balance and provide services to the land ecosystem.…”

Assessing the Effect of Rice Management System on Soil and Rice Quality Index in Girimarto, Wonogiri, Indonesia

“…Organic matter affects soil and plant biomass. Additionally, organic farming uses ecofriendly insecticides (Kurniawan et al, 2023). Organic farming improves soil quality, land sustainability, and crop quality.…”