Effects of agricultural practices on soil arthropoda: Organic and mineral fertilizers in alfalfa fields

Microarthropod populations were studied in alfalfa fields treated with the following organic fertilizers: poultry manure, sheep manure, worm compost, urban sludge, sterilized urban sludge, straw and vetch green manure. The manures were added to enrich the soil to the same level of 4% organic matter. Two different doses of mineral fertilizers were also tested. The experiment was carried out on randomized block field plots on two adjacent areas, one of which was irrigated by sprinklers. Irrigation strongly influences the effects of organic and mineral fertilizers on microarthropod population densities. The effects are different depending on the taxon considered and may even be species specific.