Abstract

RAMIREZ, Wendy et al. Characterization of the edaphic macrofauna in intensive turfgrass production systems. Pastos y Forrajes [online]. 2014, vol.37, n.2, pp. 158-165. ISSN 0864-0394.

A study was conducted in order to evaluate the performance of the edaphic macrofauna in areas of the intensive turfgrass production farm, of the Pasture and Forage Research Station Indio Hatuey. Three systems were evaluated, with different exploitation years and three replications per system: S1: soils with ten years or more of intensive exploitation; S2: soils with four years of exploitation; and S3: standard condition or reference soils, on which the plots for intensive turfgrass production will be established. In general, the taxonomic composition of the soil macrofauna was similar in the evaluated systems, and there were differences regarding diversity and equitability of the orders. The most disturbed systems (S1 and S2) were the ones with lower taxonomic diversity, with five taxonomic units (tu), due to the continuous monocrop of turfgrasses. The orders of higher representation in S1 were Coleoptera (38,63 %) and Haplotaxida (31,81 %); in S2, Coleoptera (52,63 %) and Haplotaxida (28,94 %) and in S3 the most outstanding were Haplotaxida (34,48 %) and Lepidoptera (12,93 %). These results show the potential of the edaphic macrofauna as indicator of the soil quality, and its sensitivity to the disturbances caused by the intensity in the soil use and management

Keywords : biota; soil management; turfgrasses.

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