Atividade alimentar dos organismos do solo em áreas submetidas ao plantio direto com e sem o controle mecânico de erosão

Abstract

Soil is the habitat for numerous organisms and is also the basis for agricultural production, however, different agricultural management can cause changes in this ecosystem, as they can change physical, chemical and biological parameters. In this sense, the adoption of more sustainable practices, such as, for example, the no-tillage system and the use of erosion control tend to improve the characteristics and mitigate these impacts. The objective was to evaluate the effect of mechanical erosion control on the feeding activity of soil organisms in areas submitted to the no-tillage system. The experiment was conducted at the Federal Technological University of Paraná, Dois Vizinhos Campus, in three different areas: Native Forest Teaching and Research Unit (FLN) – used as a reference-; no-till area with erosion control (PDC) and no-till area without mechanical erosion control (PDS). The feeding activity of soil organisms was determined by the “Bait-lamina test”, which consists of evaluating the food consumption of these organisms from the insertion of bait-lamina in the soil. The evaluation of consumption took place after seven (agricultural areas) and 21 days (all areas) of the implementation of the experiment, with the percentage of average consumption and in the different soil depths calculated for each treatment. In each evaluation period, the determination of soil moisture in the sampling areas was also carried out. After seven days, the average percentage of feeding activity was higher in the PDC area, compared to the PDS. After 21 days, the highest activity was observed in the reference area, followed by PDC>PDS. The greater activity in FLN may be a consequence of the conditions found in this environment, since vegetation cover, an important factor for the activity of soil organisms, is observed more effectively in this area than in agricultural areas. At different depths, a stable consumption was observed. Soil moisture was also higher in the reference area followed by the PDC area, and soil moisture is an important factor in the activity of soil organisms. It is concluded that the different types of management used in the areas can influence the food consumption of soil organisms.