Within-field overwintering contributes to arthropod predator assemblages in arable fields irrespective of tillage intensity

Abstract

Arthropod predators and pests overwinter in arable fields, but little is known about predator and pest overwintering under contrasting tillage intensities. Further, the contribution of within-field overwintering predator communities to the overall ground dwelling community is understudied. We sampled arthropod predators (carabids, staphylinids and spiders) and pests overwintering in arable fields, and estimated the activity densities of overall ground dwelling predator communities from early spring until harvest 2021. We sampled 29 conventionally managed crop fields managed using no till (direct drill), reduced tillage (non-inversion) or inversion tillage between harvesting winter cereals and sowing winter oilseed rape in 2020. No till management resulted in higher species diversity of overwintering predators, compared with inversion tillage. Tillage effects on density of overwintering predators and pests depended on sampling time. Predator and pest emergence were higher under inversion tillage compared with no till early in the season. During mid and late season, predator emergence was higher under reduced tillage compared with no till and inversion tillage. Tillage had no effects on species richness but affected community composition (beta-diversity) of the overwintering predator communities. Overwintering and overall ground dwelling predator communities were distinctly different in early season and homogenised as the crop-growing season progressed. The high average density of predators emerging per m2 of arable soil within the fields, 108 carabids, 604 staphylinids and 56 spiders, emphasises the need to adapt arable management in order to support arthropod overwintering in crop fields for enhanced biological pest regulation.

Keywords

Emergence; Direct seed; Reduced tillage; Community assembly; Agroecosystem; Soil disturbance; Herbivores; Crop protection; Diversified agriculture; Conservation biological control

Published in

Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment
2025, volume: 393, article number: 109822
Publisher: ELSEVIER

SLU Authors

• Heinen, Janina

  • Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Aarhus University

• Smith, Monique

  • Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Lundin, Ola

  • Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Bommarco, Riccardo

  • Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Ecology
Agricultural Science

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2025.109822

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/143039