An initial investigation of the effects of mulch layers on soil-dwelling arthropod assemblages in vineyards
Date
2013
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
South African Society for Enology and Viticulture
Abstract
The use of mulches is gaining worldwide attention in a number of different crops, including vineyards.
However, the effects of mulches on arthropod assemblages are not well documented. We therefore
conducted an initial investigation into the effects of three different types of mulch on arthropod assemblages
in vineyards. Sampling took place from March to June 2010 on four wine grape farms in the Stellenbosch/
Paarl region using pitfall traps. All arthropods were identified to family level and classified into functional
feeding groups. A total of forty different families of springtail (Collembola) and insect (Insecta) were
recorded. Cluster analysis indicated a high degree of similarity between the mulch sites and also between
the control sites, based on soil-dwelling arthropod diversity. Springtails and ants were most abundant and
could be used as reference organisms for future, larger-scale studies on mulches.
Description
CITATION: Addison, P., Baauw, A. H. & Groenewald, G. A. 2013. An initial investigation of the effects of mulch layers on soil-dwelling arthropod assemblages in vineyards. South African Journal of Enology and Viticulture, 34(2):266-271, doi:10.21548/34-2-1104.
The original publication is available at http://www.journals.ac.za/index.php/sajev
The original publication is available at http://www.journals.ac.za/index.php/sajev
Keywords
Arthropod pests, Mulching, Collembola, Insecta, Wine and wine making -- South Africa
Citation
Addison, P., Baauw, A. H. & Groenewald, G. A. 2013. An initial investigation of the effects of mulch layers on soil-dwelling arthropod assemblages in vineyards. South African Journal of Enology and Viticulture, 34(2):266-271, doi:10.21548/34-2-1104.