Macrofauna contributes to organic matter decomposition and soil quality in Himalayan agroecosystems, India

• Published in: Applied soil ecology : a section of Agriculture, ecosystems & environment Vol. 120; pp. 20 - 29
• Main Authors: Pant, Madhuri, Negi, Girish C.S., Kumar, Pramod
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.11.2017
• Subjects: Agroecosystem types; agroecosystems; animal manures; annuals; bags; biodiversity; coniferous forests; cropping systems; Farm yard manure; farmers; Himalayan region; India; Indian himalayan mountains; Leaf litter decomposition; nutrient availability; organic matter; plant litter; population density; rainfed farming; rhizosphere; soil depth; soil fauna; soil fertility; Soil macrofauna; Soil quality; sustainable development; topsoil; Himalayan region; India; Soil quality; Indian himalayan mountains; Soil macrofauna; Leaf litter decomposition; Agroecosystem types; Farm yard manure

•Macrofauna varies with organic matter quality and soil depth in mountain agroecosystems.•Macrofauna contributes to higher decomposition of leaf litter than defaunated control plots.•Macrofauna excluded soil has low available nutrients than defaunated control plots. In agroecosystems, rich soil biod...