Collembola abundances and assemblage structures in conventionally tilled and conservation tillage arable systems

Reduced biodiversity is associated with increased management intensity and reduced environmental heterogeneity but reduced tillage has been shown to lessen the severity of the effects. In this study we compare the effects, on the abundance and assemblage structure of Collembola, of conventional tillage with a form of reduced tillage management called ECOtillage and we examine the responses of the Collembola to straw incorporation into the soil. Conservation tillage (ECOtillage) resulted in elevated abundances of most collembolan species compared with conventional tillage practices but has little effect on species richness. The addition of straw residue did not enhance the diversity of Collembola and reduced overall abundances.