Caracterização preliminar da mesofauna edáfica em área de policultivo no Cariri Paraibano.

Abstract

The edaphic fauna has a fundamental role for the soil to be considered a living organism. These organisms contribute to the compaction of organic matter, directly influencing soil fertility, being considered bioindicators of soil quality. In this scenario, the research aimed at a preliminary characterization of the soil mesofauna composition in two areas, one being polyculture and the other anthropogenic, in the municipality of Sumé (PB), Cariri Paraíba, to add knowledge to a branch of science that has a range of factors that still need to be studied and analyzed. The research was conducted in the polyculture experimental area, located in the Experimental Farm of the CDSA and in an anthropic area in the vicinity of this. In relation to the predominant soil type in both areas, the soil was characterized as typical CRISTAL CHRONIC LUVISSOLO. The organisms were collected with the aid of 12 cast metal cylinders with dimensions of 6 x 4 cm and the mesofauna was extracted by the Berlese-Tullgren method. A total of 10 individuals of the mesofauna were collected in both areas, with only two individuals in the anthropic area. The most frequent groups were Collembola (62.5%), Diptera (25%) and Acarinae (12.5%). Based on the results of the research, it was observed that in the polyculture area a greater diversity of groups occurred in relation to the anthropic area, thus demonstrating that the area of polyculture systems (agroforests) are environments of greater biodiversity and that the system should be encouraged as a practice of soil conservation and promotion of environmental quality.