Impact of Different Crops on the Diversity of Soil Arthropods in Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan

The biodiversity of soil arthropods is a crucial element of an efficient agroecosystem. A wellbalanced community of these arthropods is essential for organic matter decomposition, nutrient 
recycling, soil structure enhancement, and crop pest control. However, the population dynamics and 
key biological roles of soil arthropods are influenced by various factors. purpose of current research 
was to check abundance and diversity of earth arthropods in relation to different crops—specifically 
wheat, rice, cotton, and fodder—over different seasonal periods in various regions of Dera Ghazi 
Khan, Pakistan. The research was conducted during two periods: the dry season (October and 
November 2019) and the dry/rainy season (January and February 2020). Soil samples were collected 
using a standard auger, and Berlese funnel extractions were performed at fortnightly intervals. 
Laboratory analyses were conducted to assess soil pH, organic matter, moisture content, electrical 
conductivity, and the levels of phosphorus and potassium. The results indicated significant 
differences in soil arthropod abundance across various sampling months and types of crops. A total 
of 4,912 arthropods were recorded, with millipedes, centipedes, and mites each comprising 9% of 
the total. Sow bugs, spiders, pseudoscorpions, wolf spiders, tiger beetles, and termites each accounted 
for 8%, while springtails and oribatid mites made up 10%, and ants represented only 5%. The relative 
abundance of arthropods varied among different crops, with the highest number of springtails 
observed in October, November, and December, oribatid mites peaking in November and December, 
and wolf spiders reaching their maximum in December. Millipedes and centipedes also showed their 
highest populations in December. A similar trend was noted in January and February for the wheat 
crop. The Shannon diversity index revealed significant diversity among arthropods across different 
crops.