An Initial Investigation of the Effects of Mulch Layers on Soil-Dwelling Arthropod Assemblages in Vineyards

  • P. Addison Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Faculty of AgriSciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
  • A.H. Baauw Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Faculty of AgriSciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
  • G.A. Groenewald Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Faculty of AgriSciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21548/34-2-1104

Abstract

The use of mulches is gaining worldwide attention in a number of different crops, including vineyards.
However, the effects of mulches on arthropod assemblages are not well documented. We therefore
conducted an initial investigation into the effects of three different types of mulch on arthropod assemblages
in vineyards. Sampling took place from March to June 2010 on four wine grape farms in the Stellenbosch/
Paarl region using pitfall traps. All arthropods were identified to family level and classified into functional
feeding groups. A total of forty different families of springtail (Collembola) and insect (Insecta) were
recorded. Cluster analysis indicated a high degree of similarity between the mulch sites and also between
the control sites, based on soil-dwelling arthropod diversity. Springtails and ants were most abundant and
could be used as reference organisms for future, larger-scale studies on mulches.

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Published
2013-08-23
Issue
Vol. 34 No. 2 (2013)
Section
Articles

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