Edaphic macrofauna in silvopastoral systems with Morus alba , Leucaenaleucophala and grasses

An experiment was carried out in order to evaluate the effect of the year, the season, the modality association, the grazing frequency, the pruning strategy and the soil depth in the behavior of the edaphic macrofauna in a grass area (P) and associated systems with Morus alba (M) and Leucaena leucophala (L) in Trujillo state, Venezuela using a randomized blocks design with factorial arrangement 4x3x3x2x2 and 3 replicates. A characterization from the macrofauna to the beginning of the establishment and different periods was studied. Was selected it at random 3 sampling point in each treatment for association modality (P; M+P; M+L+P; L+P) and calicates of 30x30x30 cm was dug in the floor. The samples were separated in different depths 0-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm. The macrofauna samples were separate, counted and classified until family level. No significant interaction was observed. However, effect of all factors studied was obtained, except of the pruning strategy, among individues/ m2 density. Significant differences among the second (57.8) and third (66.5) year of exploitation, compared with the establishment (15.9) and in the fi rst year of exploitation (20.9) were observed. During the rainy season (44.78) the biggest quantity in individuals was observed by area unit, as well as in the tree systems (M+P: 31.31; M+L+P: 36,95), with the most spaced grazing frequency (39,40) and in the fi rst 10 cm of depth (56.00; P<0.01). Bigger qualitative wealth in terms of species in the associate systems was observed. The mulberry and leucaena presence favored the colonization in the associate systems and the biggest phylum, classes, orders and families of edaphic organisms were counted.