Conservation agriculture compared to conventional tillage improves the trade-off between ground-dwelling arthropod trophic groups for natural pest regulation in cotton cropping systems

Conservation agriculture is an innovative approach based on minimal soil disturbance, soil cover with crop residues, and crop rotation, which increases the biodiversity of soil macrofauna thus contributing to nutrient cycling and soil aggregation. In addition, macrofaunal abundance may play a role at regulating insect pest populations. The study aims to predict the effects of soil management practices (conventional tillage and conservation agriculture) on the abundance of soil macrofauna and herbivore predation in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) based cropping systems.We conducted a field experiment with a randomized complete block comprising twotreatments, Conventional Tillage (CT) and Conservation Agriculture (CA), and six replications in a cotton-maize rotation system from 2020 to 2023. Soil monoliths and pitfall traps were installed in both treatments to collect ground-dwelling arthropods, to analyse the influence of soil management practices on their abundance, their trophic groups, and the rate of pest predation by generalist predators. Pest predation rates were assessed using artificial caterpillars made from plasticine. The results showed significant positive effects of soil management practices on herbivory rate, herbivore abundance, predator abundance, omnivore-predator abundance and pest predation rate. The average herbivory rate was 9.8 % in the conservation agriculture plots and 11.6 % in the conventional tillage plots. Overall, the predation rate was 58.9 % in the conservation agriculture plots and 21.8 % in the conventional tillage plots. The abundance of predators and of omnivore-predators were significantly higher in conservation agriculture than in conventional tillage. These findings suggest that conservation agriculture practices improve soil macrofauna and pest regulation, with potential benefits on soil quality and sustainability in cotton cropping systems.

Fil: Dassou, Anicet Gbèblonoudo. National University of Sciences, Technologies, Engineering and Mathematics ; Benín

Fil: Yemadje, Pierrot Lionel. Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développerment; Francia. Institute of research on Cotton; Benín

Fil: Atchadé, Mintodê Nicodème. National University of Sciences, Technologies, Engineering and Mathematic; Benín

Fil: Gohouédé, Lionel Cédric. National University of Sciences, Technologies, Engineering and Mathematic; Benín

Fil: Aboua, Charlemagne Dègbédji. Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développerment; Francia. Institute of research on Cotto; Benín

Fil: Boulakia, Stéphane. Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développerment; Francia

Fil: Balarabe, Oumarou. Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développerment; Francia

Fil: Sekloka, Emmanuel. Institute Of Research On Cotton; Benín

Fil: Tittonell, Pablo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Patagonia Norte. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria San Carlos de Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche; Argentina. Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développerment; Francia. University of Groningen; Países Bajos