Soil Macroinvertebrates and Soil Carbon Stock Ecosystem Services Across Managed Agroecosystem

Abstract

Soil macroinvertebrates in agroecosystems facilitate the soil biogeochemical processes which influence carbon stock ecosystem services and atmospheric circulations. Moreover, agronomic practices such as minimum tillage, influence the soil macroinvertebrate species abundance and richness. Currently, there is an increased interest in conservative agronomic practices that increase carbon stock ecosystem services to mitigate climate change. This study assessed the abundance and diversity of soil macroinvertebrates species and the quantity of soil carbon stocks ecosystem services across the conservative and non-conservative practices in tea, coffee and banana farms.  The Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute (TSBF) soil sampling procedure was used to collect data on macroinvertebrates across the two farming practices.  Termitidae, lumbricidae and formicidae were the dominant families sampled in the agroecosystems.  The farms that practiced conservation agriculture reported higher quantities of soil macroinvertebrate species richness and abundance. The conservation banana farm (t166=5.85, p<0.05) coffee farms (t166=6.75, p<0.05) and tea farm (t166=9.25, p<0.05). The association between soil carbon and soil macroinvertebrates was positive in the banana farm (r=0.224) but negative in the coffee (r = -0.104, p>0.05) and tea (r = -0.243, p=0.025) farm. Conservation agricultural practices such as use of plant residues, farmyard manure and animal waste enriched the soil and attracted macroinvertebrates. Long term studies and increased conservation agricultural practices are recommended as a means of creating diverse agroecosystems which are similar to natural areas and rich in carbon stock ecosystem services