Edaphic mesofauna, some studies carried out: a review

Abstract

Introduction— The soil is a complex ecosystem considered the one inhabits where a number of organisms, microorganisms, minerals, organic matter, water and air live, physical, chemical and biological activities take place in it.

Objective— To analyze updated information on research that addresses the role of the mesofauna in relation to soil quality.

Methodology— Documentary sources were used to search the bibliographic documents. A bibliographic search was carried out until September 2021 based on: writing scientific articles and books, making an analytical and critical reading of the information on edaphic fauna with an emphasis on the last decade. The information was taken from the internet using the search engine “academic Google”, Dialnet and the Wiley Online Library.

Results— Oribatid mites and collembola are the most abundant arthropods and with the highest specific diversity in the soil, they are diverse groups, biological indicators of soil quality, it is favored by agroecological practices such as coverage and it is affected by the indiscriminate use of agrochemicals.

Conclusions— the mesofauna is favored by agroecological practices such as the association of crops, plant covers and the incorporation of crop residues, use of organic inputs such as compost, implementation of easily degradable plants, zero tillage, bare soils. And it is mainly affected by the exploitation of a single plant species with high applications of agrochemicals, climatic changes, anthropic disturbances of the edaphic environment, changes in land use, soils without cover and mechanized soil preparation.