Characterization of the edaphic mesofauna under different land uses on Ferralitic Red soil of Mayabeque and Artemisa

Abstract

The study was conducted during October, 2009, in 11 sites of two provinces of the country (Mayabeque and
Artemisa), in order to characterize the edaphic mesofauna in different land uses: regenerated forests, pasturelands,
sugarcane and crops on Ferralitic Red soil. Three soil samples were taken in each replication of land use, at only
one depth level (0-10 cm), following a completely randomized sampling design. For their extraction, BerleseTullgren funnels were used, with a light and heat source, for seven days. The highest density values (ind.m-2)
for the mesofauna and detritivorous groups were recorded in the forest, followed by varied crops, pastureland
and sugarcane. The oribatides/astigmates balance was higher than one in the forest and the pastureland,
which indicated soil stability and fertility; while in varied crops the balance was very close to one and it
revealed the need of a management change in the agricultural exploitation. In the use sugarcane this ratio was
lower than one, which showed disturbance and unbalance of the edaphic environment produced by agricultural
practices.