Influence of crop and tillage on mites and springtails in arable soil.

Abstract

Experimental data from Holland are discussed on the effects of soil type (light sandy soil to heavy clay and peaty soil) and crop (potato, oats, fallow etc.), as well as of cultivation (compared to no-tillage), on frequency and distribution of Collembola and Acari. In untilled soil, almost all the arthropods occurred in the top 5 cm, while in normally cultivated soil the soil fauna (including nematodes and earthworms) was more evenly distributed in the top horizons. Collembola and Acari were particularly affected by soil structure, moisture condition, the microflora present, and vegetal cover. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)