Influence of green manures on epiedaphic macrofauna in cerrado/pantanal ecotone

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The aim of this study was to determine the similarity between nine species of green manure regarding the occurrence of epiedaphic macrofauna. The experiment was conducted during the months of August 2014 to July 2015 at the Crop Science sector of the State University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Unit of Aquidauana. Treatmentes evaluated were: Canavalia ensiformes, Dolichos lablab, Mucuna pruriens, Mucuna aterrima, Crotalaria spectabilis, Crotalaria juncea, Crotalaria ochroleuca, Cajanus cajan, Cajanus cajan and two control (fallow area and native vegetation). Experimental design was completely randomized with two replications. Each plot consists of 10 lines with 4.5 m long. Epiedaphic macrofauna inhabiting the interphase between the vegetation cover and the soil surface was collected weekly by the Pitfall model. Individuals collected in all green manure species in the same month were added and subjected to cluster analysis. The months of September and October composed group 2 due to higher averages of epiedaphic macrofauna individuals. The month of July had the highest number of individuals from Isoptera order, composing the group 3. The month of November was in which was collected the greatest number of individuals from Hymenoptera order, which has allocated this month in group 4. The others months of the year formed the group 1, indicating that the region climatic conditions in this period do not affect significantly the distribution of epiedaphic macrofauna individuals.

Soil macrofauna in green manures preceding cotton growing

“…In June there was an association with the order Orthoptera, occurring in that month the largest number of individuals, corroborating with results obtained by Souza et. al.…”

“…al., 2000). Another hypothesis observed by Souza et al (2017) for the highest occurrence of a fauna in soil covered by a particular plant species is the quality of the food. In this case, the soil covering plant, which will be the food, must be in the form of fresh or decomposed matter, a determining condition in the composition and activity of soil organisms.…”

“…The diverse occurrence of soil macrofauna individuals is associated with a relationship among the species, wherein the fauna diversity can also be related to other factors, such as plant density, established crops, adaptability to crop, food availability and content of soil organic matter (KLADIVKO, 2001). Souza et al (2017) evaluated the similarity between nine species of green manure in relation to the occurrence of epigephic macrofauna. The authors verified that Mucuna pruriens was the species with higher occurrence of epiphytic macrofauna, especially the Orthoptera and Hymenoptera.…”