Occurrence of Carabidae (Coleoptera) in soil with different farming systems

In this study homeostatic abilities of environment were evaluated. There were monitored representatives of Carabidae (genus Coleoptera), a component of examined soil edaphon. This family as a bioindicator (abundance or absence of) shows a loading of agroecosystems in this area. Biological material was gathered in Dolna Malanta (experimental base of the Slovak Agricultural University in Nitra), in the southwestern part of the Slovak Republic at an altitude of 175û180 m. The locality is situated in a warm and very dry climatic region (mean annual temperature of 10¦C and annual precipitation of 561 mm). The soil is loamy brown with a low acid reaction and relatively high content of available nutrients, with humus horizon A1 (granular loamy horizon). The epigeic component of animals was gained by method of ground traps, carried out during vegetation period (since April to October) in case of fallow system. In this study two farming systems were compared û a fallow system and conventional farming system. In the organic system of farming we applied conventional cultivation to the depth of 0,24m and minimal cultivation to the depth of 0.12 - 0.15m. Use of fertilizers was excluded and manure was applied. Pesticides were not used, only mechanical and physical methods of plant protection were used. Harvests were realized in fields of alfalfa with undersowing of broad blan, with mustard, wheat, peas, alfalfa and maize. In organic system six crops were planted in four repetitions (one experimental field was about 80 square m) and in fallow system the epigeic material was gathered from three variants (without mowing fallow, mowing fallow without removal of organic matter, mowing fallow with removal of organic matter) and again in four repetitions (one experimental field was about 80 square m). Evaluated parameters of family Carabidae: û total amount of epigeic material (abundance), û dominance (%), û species identity according to Jaccard (IA), û density of dominance according to Renkonnen (ID), û diversity degree according to Shannon and Weaver, altered by Schwerdtfeger, û total evaluation of species representation and their biodiversity. During the monitored period 214,427 exemplars were taken by ground traps in organic farming type and 117,837 exemplars in fallow farming type. From their rank among the order Coleoptera 52,651 exemplars with twenty families, in organic farming type were obtained 17,764 exemplars with twenty-two families. After the analysis of order Coleoptera were determined 33 838 exemplars of family Carabidae in organic farming type and in fallow farming type 17 764 exemplars. The values of species identity IA were 69.33 û 85.00%, density of dominance ID fluctuated between 86.79 û 93.20%. Values of diversity degree (d) were 1.4824 û 2.2324. Dominant representation in all variants was had by Harpalus rufipes (De Geer, 1,774). Obtained results shows to similarly species composition of compared zoocoenoses and well-balanced homeostatic environmental conditions.