Work

Environmental context modulates the positive effects of sustainable farming on soil mesofauna abundance and diversity at a national scale.

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Rainfed crops constitute the most extensive agroecosystem on the planet, playing a critical role in global food production, particularly in drylands and developing countries. Soil mesofauna contributes substantially to the sustainability and health of agricultural systems through its role in the processing and recycling of organic matter. Yet, the contribution of agricultural management practices in shaping the diversity and abundance of these organisms remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated the impacts of three contrasting management practices (conventional, organic, and no-till) on the abundance and diversity of soil mesofauna in 291 farms across Spain. Organic and no-till farming led to higher abundance, taxonomic richness, and Shannon index of soil mesofauna compared to conventional management. Among trophic groups, both decomposer and predators abundances increased in response to these practices. Among individual taxa, Acari, as well as the Oribatida and Prostigmata groups, showed higher abundances under both organic and no-till farming, while Diptera larvae and Psocoptera also responded positively to these practices. The positive effects of sustainable management on mesofauna abundance, taxonomic richness and Shannon index were stronger at sites with higher soil organic matter and annual precipitation. Our results highlight the contribution of sustainable management to support soil fauna in agroecosystems. These findings underscore the need to shift away from intensive farming practices, particularly as climate change may exacerbate environmental degradation, and to implement context–specific policies that support sustainable agricultural practices consistent with long-term sustainability goals.

Source: Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment

DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2026.110713