Effects of plant diversity on plant biomass production and soil macrofauna in Amazonian pastures

2008

Article référencé dans le Web of Science WOS:000255499300008

Laossi Kam-Rigne, Barot Sébastien, Carvalho D., Desjardins Thierry, Lavelle Patrick, Martins M., Mitja Danielle, Rendeiro A. C., Rousseau G., Sarrazin Max, Velasquez Elena, Grimaldi Michel

Pedobiologia, 2008, 51 (5-6), p. 397-407 ISSN 0031-4056

We examined the effect of plant diversity on plant production and soil macrofauna density and diversity. Four plants species (Arachis pintoi, an herbaceous legume; Brachiaria brizantha, a perennial grass; Leucaena leucocephala, a legume shrub; Solanum rugosum, a non-legume shrub) were used in a field experiment and communities of all combinations of one, two, three or four species were established. Plant diversity neither significantly affected density and diversity of soil macrofauna nor total plant biomass, however, the biomass of specific plants was negatively affected by plant diversity. Earthworm and ant densities were significantly higher in the presence of A. pintoi although this plant influenced neither the density of the other group nor fauna diversity. Earthworm and diplopod densities increased significantly with shoot biomass of A. pintoi. Fauna diversity increased significantly with shoot biomass (specific and total). Root biomass did not affect fauna density and diversity. Our results suggest that fauna density is affected by titter quality and that it is more affected by resource quantity than quality. Our results also confirm the importance of nitrogen fixers to ecosystem function.

Sciences du milieu [021] ; Biologie du sol [074]

Fonds IRD [F B010042564]

fdi:010042564