Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-vvkck Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-26T09:21:19.442Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Organic vs. organic – soil arthropods as bioindicators of ecological sustainability in greenhouse system experiment under Mediterranean conditions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 November 2017

Suzana Madzaric ,
F.G. Ceglie ,
L. Depalo ,
L. Al Bitar ,
G. Mimiola ,
F. Tittarelli  and
G. Burgio
Suzana Madzaric*
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Science per l'Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Napoli ‘Parthenope’ Centro Direzionale, Isola C4, 80143 Napoli, Italy CIHEAM – Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari, via Ceglie 9, 70010 – Valenzano (BA), Italy
F.G. Ceglie
Affiliation:
CIHEAM – Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari, via Ceglie 9, 70010 – Valenzano (BA), Italy
L. Depalo
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie-Entomologia, Università di Bologna, viale Fanin 42, 40127 Bologna, Italy
L. Al Bitar
Affiliation:
CIHEAM – Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari, via Ceglie 9, 70010 – Valenzano (BA), Italy
G. Mimiola
Affiliation:
CIHEAM – Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari, via Ceglie 9, 70010 – Valenzano (BA), Italy
F. Tittarelli
Affiliation:
Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria-Centro di ricerca per lo studio delle relazioni tra pianta e suolo CREA – RPS, Rome, Italy
G. Burgio
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie-Entomologia, Università di Bologna, viale Fanin 42, 40127 Bologna, Italy
*
*Author for correspondence Phone: +39 (342) 134-7169 Fax: +39 (080) 4606-210 E-mail: smbmancic@gmail.com
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Organic greenhouse (OGH) production is characterized by different systems and agricultural practices with diverse environmental impact. Soil arthropods are widely used as bioindicators of ecological sustainability in open field studies, while there is a lack of research on organic production for protected systems. This study assessed the soil arthropod abundance and diversity over a 2-year crop rotation in three systems of OGH production in the Mediterranean. The systems under assessment differed in soil fertility management: SUBST – a simplified system of organic production, based on an input substitution approach (use of guano and organic liquid fertilizers), AGROCOM – soil fertility mainly based on compost application and agroecological services crops (ASC) cultivation (tailored use of cover crops) as part of crop rotation, and AGROMAN – animal manure and ASC cultivation as part of crop rotation. Monitoring of soil fauna was performed by using pitfall traps and seven taxa were considered: Carabidae, Staphylinidae, Araneae, Opiliones, Isopoda, Myriapoda, and Collembola. Results demonstrated high potential of ASC cultivation as a technique for beneficial soil arthropod conservation in OGH conditions. SUBST system was dominated by Collembola in all crops, while AGROMAN and AGROCOM had more balanced relative abundance of Isopoda, Staphylinidae, and Aranea. Opiliones and Myriapoda were more affected by season, while Carabidae were poorly represented in the whole monitoring period. Despite the fact that all three production systems are in accordance with the European Union regulation on organic farming, findings of this study displayed significant differences among them and confirmed the suitability of soil arthropods as bioindicators in protected systems of organic farming.

Keywords

organic greenhouseagroecological services cropsagroecologyStaphylinidae
Type
Research Papers
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 108 , Issue 5 , October 2018 , pp. 625 - 635
Check for updates
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Andre, H.M., Duarme, X. & Lebrum, P. (2002) Soil biodiversity: myth, reality or conning? Oikos 96, 3–24.Google Scholar
Ayres, E., Steltzer, H., Simmons, B.L., Simpson, R.T., Steinweg, J.M., Wallenstein, M.D., Mellor, N., Parton, W.J., Moore, J.C. & Wall, D.H. (2009) Home-field advantage accelerates leaf litter decomposition in forests. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 41, 606–610.Google Scholar
Bell, J.R., Traugott, M., Sunderland, K.D., Skirvin, D.J., Mead, A., Kravar-Garde, L., Reynolds, K., Fenlon, J.S. & Symondson, W.O.C. (2008) Beneficial links for the control of aphids: the effects of compost applications on predators and prey. Journal of Applied Ecology 45, 1266–1273.Google Scholar
Bengtsson, J., Ahnström, J., Weibull, A. & Weibull, A.C. (2005) The effects of organic agriculture on biodiversity and abundance: a meta-analysis. Journal of Applied Ecology 42, 261–269.Google Scholar
Biaggini, M., Consorti, R., Dapporto, L., Dellacasa, M., Paggetti, E. & Corti, C. (2007) The taxonomic level order as a possible tool for rapid assessment of arthropod diversity in agricultural landscapes. Agriculture, Ecosystem & Environment 122, 183–191.Google Scholar
Birkhofer, K., Bezemer, T.M., Bloem, J., Bonkowski, M., Christensen, S., Dubois, D., Ekelund, F., Fliessbach, A., Gunst, L., Hedlund, K., Mader, P., Mikola, J., Robin, C., Setala, H., Tatin-Froux, F., Van der Putten, W.H. & Scheu, S. (2008) Long term organic farming fosters below and aboveground biota: implications for soil quality, biological control and productivity. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 40, 2297–2308.Google Scholar
Bohac, J. (1999) Staphylinid beetles as bioindicators. Agriculture, Ecosystem & Environment 74, 357–372.Google Scholar
Burgio, G., Campanelli, G., Leteo, F., Ramilli, F., Depalo, L., Fabbri, R. & Sgolastra, F. (2015) Ecological sustainability of an organic four-year vegetable rotation system: carabids and other soil arthropods as bioindicators. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems 39, 295–316.Google Scholar
Caballero-López, B., Blanco-Moreno, J.M., Pérez, N., Pujade-Villar, J., Ventura, D., Oliva, F. & Sans, F.X. (2010) A functional approach to assessing plant–arthropod interaction in winter wheat. Agriculture, Ecosystem & Environment 137, 288–293.Google Scholar
Canali, S., Diacono, M., Campanelli, G. & Montemurro, F. (2015) Organic no-till with roller crimpers: agro-ecosystem services and applications in organic Mediterranean vegetable productions. Sustainable Agriculture Research 4, 66–75.Google Scholar
Cárdenas, M., Castro, J. & Campos, M. (2012) Short-term response of soil spiders to cover-crop removal in an organic olive orchard in a Mediterranean setting. Journal of Insect Science 12, 1–18.Google Scholar
Ciaccia, C., Testani, E., Campanelli, G., Sestili, S., Leteo, F., Tittarelli, F., Riva, F., Canali, S. & Trinchera, A. (2015) Ecological service providing crops effect on melon-weed competition and allelopathic interactions. Organic Agriculture 5, 199–207.Google Scholar
Clough, Y., Holzschuh, A., Gabriel, D., Purtauf, T., Kleijn, D., Kruess, A., Steffan-Dewenter, I. & Tscharntke, T. (2007a) Alpha and beta diversity of arthropods and plants in organically and conventionally managed wheat fields. Journal of Applied Ecology 44, 804–812.Google Scholar
Clough, Y., Kruess, A. & Tscharntke, T. (2007b) Organic versus conventional arable farming systems: functional grouping helps understand Staphylinid response. Agriculture, Ecosystem & Environment 118, 285–290.Google Scholar
Collins, K.L., Boatman, N.D., Wilcox, A., Holland, J.M. & Chaney, K. (2002) Influence of beetle banks on cereal aphid predation in winter wheat. Agriculture, Ecosystem & Environment 93, 337–350.Google Scholar
Depalo, L., Burgio, G., Von Fragstein, P., Kristensen, H.L., Bavec, M., Robačer, M., Campanelli, G. & Canali, S. (2016) Impact of living mulch on arthropod fauna: analysis of pest and beneficial dynamics on organic cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis) in different European scenarios. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 32, 1–8.Google Scholar
Diekötter, T., Wamser, S., Wolters, V. & Birkhofer, K. (2010) Landscape and management effects on structure and function of soil arthropod communities in winter wheat. Agriculture, Ecosystem & Environment 137, 108–112.Google Scholar
Drinkwater, L.E. (2002) Cropping systems research: reconsidering agricultural experimental approaches. HortTechnology 12, 355–361.Google Scholar
Ebeling, A., Pompe, S., Baade, J., Eisenhauer, N., Hillebrand, H., Proulx, R., Roscher, C., Schmid, B., Wirth, C. & Weisser, W.W. (2014) Plant diversity impacts decomposition and herbivory via changes in aboveground arthropods. PLoS ONE 9, e106529.Google Scholar
EC [European Council] (2007) Council regulation (EC) No 834/2007 on organic production and labeling of organic products and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91. O.J. of the European Union of the 20/07/2007 L 189/1.Google Scholar
Eisenhauer, N., Sabais, A.C.W. & Scheu, S. (2011) Collembola species composition and diversity effects on ecosystem functioning vary with plant functional group identity. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 43, 1697–1704.Google Scholar
Ekroos, J., Hyvonen, T., Tiainen, J. & Tiira, M. (2010) Responses in plant and carabid communities to farming practises in boreal landscapes. Agriculture, Ecosystem & Environment 135, 288–293.Google Scholar
Endlweber, K. & Scheu, S. (2007) Interactions between myccorhizal fungi and Collembola: effects on root structure of competing plant species. Biology and Fertility of Soils 43, 741–749.Google Scholar
Frampton, G.K., Van Den Brink, P.J. & Gould, P.J.L. (2000) Effects of spring drought and irrigation on farmland arthropods in southern Britain. Journal of Applied Ecology 37, 865–883.Google Scholar
Gkisakis, V., Volakakis, N., Kollaros, D., Barberi, P. & Kabourakis, E.M. (2016) Soil arthropod community in the olive agroecosystem: determined by environment and farming practices in different management systems and agroecological zones. Agriculture, Ecosystem & Environment 218, 178–189.Google Scholar
Good, J.A. & Giller, P.S. (1991) The effect of cereal and grass management on Staphylinid (Coleoptera) assemblages in South West Ireland. Journal of Applied Ecology 28, 810–826.Google Scholar
Goldberger, J.R. (2011) Conventionalization, civic engagement, and the sustainability of organic agriculture. Journal of Rural Studies 27, 288–296.Google Scholar
Hall, A. & Mogyorody, V. (2001) Organic farmers in Ontario: an examination of the conventionalization argument. Sociologia Ruralis 41, 399–422.Google Scholar
Hole, D.G., Perkins, A.J., Wilson, J.D., Alexander, I.H., Grice, P.V. & Evans, A.D. (2005) Does organic farming benefit biodiversity? Biological Conservation 122, 113–130.Google Scholar
Hopkin, S.P. (1997) Biology of the Springtails (Insecta: Collembola). New York, Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Høye, T. T. & Forchhammer, M. C. (2008) The influence of weather conditions on the activity of high arctic arthropods inferred from long-term observations. BMC Ecology 8, 8.Google Scholar
Jabbour, R., Pisani-Gareau, T., Smith, R.G., Mullen, C. & Barbercheck, M. (2016) Cover crop and tillage intensities alter ground-dwelling arthropod communities during the transition to organic production. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 31, 361–374.Google Scholar
Kampichler, C. & Geissen, V. (2005) Temporal predictability of soil microarthropod communities in temperate forests. Pedobiologia 49, 41–50.Google Scholar
Kikas, A. & Luik, A. (2002) The influence of different mulches on strawberry yield and beneficial entomofauna. Acta Horticulturae 567, 701–704.Google Scholar
Kotze, D.J., Brandmayr, P., Casale, A., Dauffy-Richard, E., Dekoninck, W., Koivula, M.J., Lövei, G.L., Mossakowski, D., Noordijk, J., Paarmann, W., Pizzolotto, R., Saska, P., Schwerk, A., Serrano, J., Szyszko, J., Taboada, A., Turin, H., Venn, S., Vermeulen, R. & Zetto, T. (2005) Forty years of carabid beetle research in Europe - from taxonomy, biology, ecology and population studies to bioindication, habitat assessment and conservation. ZooKeys 100, 55–148.Google Scholar
Kracht, M. & Schrader, S. (1997) Collembola and Acari in compacted soil of agricultural land under different soil tillage systems. Braunschweiger Naturkundliche Schriften 5, 425–440.Google Scholar
Kromp, B. (1999) Carabid beetles in sustainable agriculture: a review on pest control efficacy, cultivation impacts and enhancement. Journal of Applied Ecology 74, 187–228.Google Scholar
Lensing, J.R., Todd, S. & Wise, D.H. (2005) The impact of altered precipitation on spatial stratification and activity-densities of springtails (Collembola) and spiders (Araneae). Ecological Entomology 30, 194–200.Google Scholar
Lindberg, N., Engtsson, J.B. & Persson, T. (2002) Effects of experimental irrigation and drought on the composition and diversity of soil fauna in a coniferous stand. Journal of Applied Ecology 39, 924–936.Google Scholar
Mathews, C.R., Bottrell, D.G. & Brown, M.W. (2004) Habitat manipulation of the apple orchard floor to increase ground-dwelling predators and predation of Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Biological Control 30, 265–273.Google Scholar
Milcu, A., Partsch, S., Langel, R. & Scheu, S. (2006) The response of decomposers (earthworms, springtails and microorganisms) to variations in species and functional group diversity of plants. Oikos 112, 513–524.Google Scholar
Nasir, S., Akram, W., Zahid, F.M., Ahmed, F., Hussain, S.M. & Nasir, I. (2015) Effect of crop type and production systems (conventional and organic agriculture) on the density of rove beetles (Staphylinidae: Coleoptera) in the Punjab, Pakistan. Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 88, 1–9.Google Scholar
Paoletti, M.G. & Bressan, M. (1996) Soil invertebrates as bioindicators of human disturbance. Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences 15, 21–62.Google Scholar
Paoletti, M.G. & Hassall, M. (1999) Woodlice (Isopoda: Oniscidea): their potential for assessing sustainability and use as bioindicators. Journal of Applied Ecology 74, 157–165.Google Scholar
Pinto da Rocha, R., Machado, G. & Giribet, G. (2007) Harvestman – The Biology of Opiliones. USA, Harvard University Press.Google Scholar
Randall, N.P. & James, K.L. (2012) The effectiveness of integrated farm management, organic farming and agri-environment schemes for conserving biodiversity in temperate Europe – a systematic map. Environmental Evidence 1, 1–21.Google Scholar
Razo-González, M., Castaño-Meneses, G., Callejas-Chavero, A., Pérez-Velázquez, D. & Palacios-Vargasa, J.G. (2014) Temporal variations of soil arthropods community structure in El Pedregal de San Ángel Ecological Reserve, Mexico City, Mexico. Applied Soil Ecology 83, 88–94.Google Scholar
Sanguankeo, P.P. & León, R.G. (2011) Weed management practices determine plant and arthropod diversity and seed predation in vineyards. Weed Research 51, 404–412.Google Scholar
Southwood, T.R.E. & Henderson, P.A. (2000). Ecological Methods. Oxford, Blackwell Science.Google Scholar
Scholberg, J.M.S., Dogliott, S., Zotarelli, L., Cherr, C.M., Leoni, C. & Rossing, W.A.H. (2010) Cover crops in agrosystems, innovations and applications. pp. 59–98 in Lichtfouse, E. (ed.), Sustainable Agriculture Reviews 4: Genetic Engineering, Biofertilisation, Soil Quality and Organic Farming. Dordrecht, The Netherlands, Springer.Google Scholar
Smeding, F.W. & de Snoo, G.R. (2003) A concept of food-web structure in organic arable farming systems. Landscape and Urban Planning 65, 219–236.Google Scholar
Snyder, B.A. & Hendrix, P.F. (2008) Current and potential roles of soil macroinvertebrates (earthworms, millipedes, and isopods) in ecological restoration. Restoration Ecology 16, 629–636.Google Scholar
Sunderland, K. & Samu, F. (2000) Effects of agricultural diversification on the abundance, distribution, and pest control potential of spiders: a review. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 95, 1–13.Google Scholar
Thiele, H. U. (1977). Carabid Beetles in Their Environment. New York, Springer.Google Scholar
Tittarelli, F., Ceglie, F.G., Ciaccia, C., Mimiola, G., Amodio, M.L. & Colelli, G. (2016) Organic strawberry in Mediterranean greenhouse: effect of different production systems on soil fertility and fruit quality. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems First View, 1–13.Google Scholar
Tuovinen, T., Kikas, A., Tolonen, T. & Kivijärvi, P. (2006) Organic mulches vs. black plastic in organic strawberry: does it makes a difference for ground beetles (Col., Carabidae)? Journal of Applied Entomology 130, 495–503.Google Scholar
Van Lenteren, J.C. (2000) A greenhouse without pesticides: fact or fantasy? Crop Protection 19, 375–384.Google Scholar
Van Straalen, N.M. (1998) Evaluation of bioindicator systems derived from soil arthropod communities. Applied Soil Ecology 9, 429–437.Google Scholar
Wang, S., Chen, H.Y., Tan, Y., Fan, H. & Ruan, H. (2016) Fertilizer regime impacts on abundance and diversity of soil fauna across a poplar plantation chronosequence in coastal Eastern China. Scientific Reports 6, 208–216.Google Scholar
Wardle, D.A., Nicholson, K.S., Bonner, K.I. & Yeates, G.W. (1999) Effects of agricultural intensification on soil-associated arthropod population dynamics, community structure, diversity and temporal variability over a seven-year period. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 31, 1691–1706.Google Scholar
Woodcock, B.A., Redheada, J., Vanbergenb, A.J., Hulmesa, L., Hulmesa, S., Peytona, J., Nowakowskic, M., Pywella, R.F. & Hearda, M.S. (2010) Impact of habitat type and landscape structure on biomass, species richness and functional diversity of ground beetles. Journal of Applied Ecology 139, 181–186.Google Scholar
Zhu, X. & Zhu, B. (2015) Diversity and abundance of soil fauna as influenced by long term fertilization in cropland of purple soil, China. Soil and Tillage Research 146, 39–46.Google Scholar