Case study of microarthropod communities to assess soil quality in different managed vineyards

Abstract

Abstract. Land use influences the abundance and diversity of soil arthropods. The evaluation of the impact of different management strategies on soil quality is increasingly sought, and the determination of community structures of edaphic fauna can represent an efficient tool. In the area of Langhe (Piedmont, Italy), eight vineyards characterized for physical and chemical properties (soil texture, soil pH, total organic carbon, total nitrogen, calcium carbonate) were selected. We evaluated the effect of two types of crop management, organic and integrated pest management (IPM), on abundance and biodiversity of microarthropods living at the soil surface. Soil sampling was carried out in winter 2011 and spring 2012. All specimens were counted and determined up to the order level. The biodiversity analysis was performed using ecological indexes (taxa richness, dominance, Shannon-Wiener, Buzas and Gibson's evenness, Margalef, equitability, Berger-Parker), and the biological soil quality was assessed with the BSQ-ar index.The mesofauna abundance was affected by both the type of management and sampling time. On the whole, a higher abundance was in organic vineyards (N = 1981) than in IPM ones (N = 1062). The analysis performed by ecological indexes showed quite a high level of biodiversity in this environment, particularly in May 2012. Furthermore, the BSQ-ar values registered were similar to those obtained in preserved soils.

Soil ecotoxicology and mesofauna at the site of an attested oil spill in Ipanema National Forest

“…In this case in particular, increased sand content negatively affected the abundance of certain groups, as well as average richness and the Shannon Weaver index (the last of which, along with the Pielou equation, showed no dependence on vegetation type). Other authors (Lavelle & Spain, 2001;Gagnarli et al, 2015) have corroborated this observed influence; however, on the whole, it has not been seriously addressed in the literature.…”

Soil erosion in sloping vineyards assessed by using botanical indicators and sediment collectors in the Ruwer-Mosel valley

“…Vineyards often have highly degraded soils, with soil lowering up to 0.5 to 2 mm yr À1 Prosdocimi et al, 2016a), rates that vastly exceed natural rates of pedogenesis (Brevik, 2013), which is due to: i) traditional tillage management (Cerdan et al, 2010;Francone et al, 2010); ii) the application of pesticides (Marín et al, 2016); iii) low soil organic matter and water retention capacity (Brillante et al, 2015); iv) biological degradation (Costantini et al, 2015;Cagnarli et al, 2015); and, v) the impact of irrigation (Terrón et al, 2015). Most of the wine growers, local and regional governments, and viticulture companies have contributed to improve the production of wine, dissemination of tourism, promotion of vineyard landscapes.…”

Soil Erosion Processes in European Vineyards: A Qualitative Comparison of Rainfall Simulation Measurements in Germany, Spain and France

“…There is a growing awareness of the need to avoid high soil erosion rates and to reduce the transfer of pollutants downstream [12,13]. To meet this goal, new agricultural measures are being applied through the development of new agri-environments with conceptual models of public spending efficiency [14] in the recovery of soil functions and services [15][16][17][18]. The occurrence of extreme rainfall events, soil characteristics and in some cases steep slopes contribute to soil degradation.…”