Long-Term Effects of No-Tillage on Arthropod Biodiversity in Rainfed and Irrigated Annual Crops

Abstract

Numerous studies show that tillage has a negative impact on the future sustainability of annual crops. Possible negative effects include the loss of arthropod biodiversity on the soil surface. In this context, a comparative study was carried out between tillage and no-tillage plots after four years of differentiated management. Research was carried out on a rotation of rainfed annual crops and on an irrigated maize monoculture. It was found that no-tillage of annual crops was beneficial in increasing the overall diversity and abundance of arthropod species. The dominance of three orders of arthropods on the surface of annual crops was confirmed, corresponding to the increased presence of morphospecies and individual beetles, ants and spiders. In rainfed crops, a significant increase in morphospecies was observed in no-tillage (19.5) compared to conventional tillage (16.2). In irrigated crops, the average abundance of arthropods in no-tillage (96.7) was significantly higher than in conventional tillage (57.8). Arthropod diversity on the soil surface was mainly influenced by the management system used (tillage or no-tillage), followed by soil carbon content and irrigation (irrigation or no irrigation).

Keywords

• no-tillage
• Conservation Agriculture
• arthropods
• biodiversity