Edaphic invertebrate macrofauna in cassava cultivation under vegetable cover crops

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of cassava cultivation under different vegetable cover crops according to the density and diversity of soil invertebrate macrofauna. Field experiment was carried out at Glória de Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil, on an Oxisol, under conventional drilling (SC), no-tillage system under Stizolobium cinereum (PDMu), Sorghum bicolor (PDSo) and Pennisetum glaucum (PDMi) mulching, with comparison of native vegetation system (VN). Evaluations were performed in April/2003 (before sowing), November/2003 (6 months after sowing), April/2004 (11 months after sowing) and November/2004 (18 months after sowing). Significant effect of the interaction between the evaluated systems and sampling dates in relation to density and diversity values of soil invertebrate macrofauna was observed. The termites, ants and Coleoptera (immature and adult) groups were predominant in this study. The use of cover crops plants in the cassava pre-sowing, under no-tillage, provided conditions for the reestablishment of soil invertebrate macrofauna community, indicating that Stizolobium cinereum, Sorghum bicolor and Pennisetum glaucum are promising alternatives for a better management.