The local impact of macrofauna and land-use intensity on soil nutrient concentration and exchangeability in lowland tropical Peru

Agricultural expansion is a major driver of deforestation which has negative consequences for biodiversity and stability. While sustainable farming is known to be beneficial for biodiversity and crop resilience, little is known about the impact of macrofauna and land-use intensity on soil quality. In this study, we examine the relative effects of (1) soil macrofauna and (2) land-use (primary forest, agroforestry, annual crop) on element depletion rates, concentration, and exchangeability in standardised soil. We used microcosms with two different mesh sizes, 0.25mm and 5mm, to exclude and include macrofauna, respectively. The microcosms were incubated for up to a year throughout which samples were collected without replacement. Macrofauna did not have a significant impact on any of the soil parameters which is likely due to the low diversity of termites in the sites. Land-use intensity significantly affected cation depletion rates whose effects increased in order of primary forest