3. Impact of farming practices on soil fauna
Agricultural practices aim to optimize the growth and yield of cultivated plants. They involve many aspects, including crop varieties, crop rotations, tillage, nutrient inputs and pest and disease management. Each of these actions is likely to influence the organisms present in the soil. As the subject is vast, we will focus on three important practices.
Tillage modifies soil properties to facilitate crop growth. Tillage influences soil organisms either directly by injuring or killing them, or by exposing them to the risk of predation, and/or indirectly by modifying their habitat and the location of nutrient sources. In the case of springtails, for example, most studies have shown a negative...
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Impact of farming practices on soil fauna