Abstract:
Surface-dwelling beetles offer ecosystem services in agro-ecosystems including biological pest
control and organic matter decomposition. This study was conducted to investigate beetle
community response to six years of tillage, crop residue application, crop rotation and soil
fertility amendments (low fertiliser, high fertiliser, manure, manure + low fertiliser and manure +
60 kg N ha−1) treatments. Reduced tillage increased beetle abundance by 4.6% relative to soil
inversion tillage. Crop residue application increased the abundances of Platynus assimilis,
Zophosis boei and total beetles by two to three times. Meanwhile, Renatiella reticulata increased
by 628.6% in high fertiliser compared to manure + 60 kg N ha−1, manure + low fertiliser and the
control. In crop rotation + crop residue retention plots, application of sole manure at 10 t ha−1
increased the Shannon index by 360–365% relative to manure + 60 kg N ha−1 and manure + low
fertiliser. Based on the findings in this study, it can be concluded that reduced tillage, retention
of crop residues on the soil surface and application of manure increase surface-dwelling beetle
abundance and diversity.
