Soil Arthropod Abundance and Diversity Following Land Application of Swine Slurry

Authors

Nichole R. Schuster, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Julie A. Peterson, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
John E. Gilley, USDA, Agricultural Research ServiceFollow
Linda R. Schott, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Amy M. Schmidt, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2019

Citation

Agricultural Sciences, 10, 150-163.

Comments

Copyright © 2019 by author(s) and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.

Open access

https://doi.org/10.4236/as.2019.102013

Abstract

Soil arthropods play an important role in nutrient cycling and maintenance of soil structure, and their abundance and diversity provide an indication of the biological quality of soil. Land application of livestock manure provides crop nutrients and may also impact the soil arthropod community. This study was conducted to quantify soil arthropod abundance and diversity for a pe-riod of one year following swine manure application via broadcast or injec-tion. Arthropods were extracted from plot soil samples using Berlese funnels, identified and counted, and the QBS index (Qualità Biologica del Suolo) was calculated for each soil sample. Collembola (Hypogastruridae and Isotomi-dae) populations were greater (p < 0.05) in the broadcast plots than the injec-tion or control plots. Pseudoscorpiones were more abundant (p < 0.05) in the injection treatment compared to the broadcast and control treatments. Acari populations and the QBS index were not significantly impacted by manure application.