Below-ground biodiversity in agricultural systems: The role of crop-specific management in shaping soil arthropod communities

Abstract

Soil arthropod communities play a crucial role in ecosystem functioning, yet their response to agricultural land use and management practices remains poorly understood. This study aims to assess (i) soil biological quality, (ii) arthropod biodiversity, and (iii) community structure across different agricultural systems, evaluating the effects of soil management strategies (organic, integrated, conservative). A total of 414 sampling areas were investigated (during spring and, where the same crop was maintained, autumn, in the years 2019 and 2022) across arable land, vineyards, orchards, and grasslands, with soil properties characterization (texture, humidity, bulk density) and soil arthropods extracted and identified to the order or class level. The QBS-ar and QBS-c indices, Shannon diversity (H’), and Pielou’s Evenness (J) were used to evaluate soil biological quality and community structure. Results indicate that agricultural management significantly influences soil biological quality and arthropod abundance. Organic management improved biodiversity and QBS-ar in alfalfa and cereals but not in leguminous crops. Vineyards exhibited higher arthropod densities than arable land, where soil biological quality was most impacted. Seasonal variation influenced community structure, but not diversity indices. Specific arthropod taxa correlated with distinct land uses, with Pseudoscorpionidae, Isopoda, and Protura associated with vineyards, while Myriapoda, Diplura, and Hymenoptera thrived in organically managed alfalfa. These findings highlight the role of agricultural management in shaping soil arthropod communities and emphasize the need for crop-specific management approaches to enhance soil biodiversity and ecosystem services.