Interaction of organic nitrogen and C/N ratio enhances soil microarthropod abundance

Abstract

Organic management is widely regarded as an effective strategy to prevent soil degradation in agroecosystems. In this study, we investigated the abundance of soil microarthropods in a multi-cropping system by comparing organic and conventional management practices. A total of 189 soil samples were collected from 63 agricultural sites cultivating three crops: paddy rice (Oryza sativa L.), soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merrill], and vegetables [Cucurbita moschata (Duch.) Poir., Solanum melongena L., etc.]. An averaged generalized linear mixed model revealed that both organic management and vegetable cropping were associated with significantly higher microarthropod abundance. We also detected a positive interaction between the soil carbon-to-nitrogen ratio and organic nitrogen content, indicating that organically enriched soils provide favorable conditions for microarthropods. Our findings demonstrate that agricultural management practices, cropping systems, and soil nutrient profiles collectively shape the abundance of soil microarthropods.