Edaphic macroinvertebrates in productive systems of Coffea arabica in Garzón, Huila, Colombia.

Agroforestry systems are an increasingly implemented alternative for coffee production in Colombia due to the multiple socioeconomic and environmental benefits. They generate an ideal habitat for soil macrofauna. The objective of this research was to evaluate the incidence of two coffee production systems on the population behavior of edaphic macroinvertebrates. In order to do this, the composition, richness, abundance and vertical distribution of soil macroinvertebrate families in Secondary Forest (Bs), Coffee Agroforestry Systems (SAFc) and Coffee Monoculture (Mc) systems were evaluated in four strata (leaf litter, 0-10 cm, 10-20 cm and 20-30 cm). 22 orders and 53 families of edaphic macroinvertebrates were identified, presenting the highest abundance of Lumbricidae, Formicidae, Porcellionidae and the lowest of Forficulidae, Geophilidae and Polydesmidae, with Bs > SAFc > Mc, except Forficulidae, Polydesmidae and Porcellionidae, which were found in greater abundance in Mc than in SAFc; in all systems the abundance was higher in the first 10 cm of the soil (p<0.05). Wealth showed a similar behavior, although without statistically significant effects. Although there are soil macroinvertebrates that are tolerant to the disturbances caused by forest cover changes to establish coffee production systems, some families of macroinvertebrates are susceptible to these cover changes, which makes them potential indicators of soil disturbances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]