The study aimed to evaluate soil quality using microarthopods density, diversity and soil biological quality index （QBS-ar） under different land use systems and elevation gradients. A secondary aim was to determine ...The study aimed to evaluate soil quality using microarthopods density, diversity and soil biological quality index （QBS-ar） under different land use systems and elevation gradients. A secondary aim was to determine the relationship among soil biological and physiochemical indicators. Three groups of soil microarthropods were recognized viz. （1） Collembola （38%） （2） Acarina （33%） and （3） other microarthropods （29%）. ANOVA indicated that total microarthropods densities differed significantly with land use and elevation. Population density of Acarina and other mieroarthropods were weakly significant different according to land use, while Collembola and Acarina densities showed highly significant difference with elevation. Total microarthropods, Acarina and Collembola densities were positively significantly correlated with soil organic carbon （SOC） and moisture but negatively correlated with bulk density, pH and temperature of the soil. SOC and soil moisture appeared to be good indicators of soil quality as reflected by the higher density and diversity of soil total microarthropods, Collembola, Acarina and other microarthropods group. The use of microarthropods for soil quality assessment could be effective and relatively inexpensive tool; however, further research is required to evaluate the impact of agricultural practices and elevation gradient on soil microarthropods density, diversity and species composition for the sustainable management of agro ecosystems.展开更多
文摘The study aimed to evaluate soil quality using microarthopods density, diversity and soil biological quality index （QBS-ar） under different land use systems and elevation gradients. A secondary aim was to determine the relationship among soil biological and physiochemical indicators. Three groups of soil microarthropods were recognized viz. （1） Collembola （38%） （2） Acarina （33%） and （3） other microarthropods （29%）. ANOVA indicated that total microarthropods densities differed significantly with land use and elevation. Population density of Acarina and other mieroarthropods were weakly significant different according to land use, while Collembola and Acarina densities showed highly significant difference with elevation. Total microarthropods, Acarina and Collembola densities were positively significantly correlated with soil organic carbon （SOC） and moisture but negatively correlated with bulk density, pH and temperature of the soil. SOC and soil moisture appeared to be good indicators of soil quality as reflected by the higher density and diversity of soil total microarthropods, Collembola, Acarina and other microarthropods group. The use of microarthropods for soil quality assessment could be effective and relatively inexpensive tool; however, further research is required to evaluate the impact of agricultural practices and elevation gradient on soil microarthropods density, diversity and species composition for the sustainable management of agro ecosystems.
