Abundance and diversity of soil invertebrate macro-fauna in different land uses at Shenkolla watershed, South Central Ethiopia

Abstract Background Land use can exert a strong influence on the abundance, diversity, and community composition of soil macro-fauna. This study was conducted to evaluate effects four land types abundance diversity invertebrate macro-fauna communities. These uses include forest land, grazing crop cultivated outfields, homestead garden fields present at Shenkolla watershed, south central Ethiopia. Monolith sampling done according standard Tropical Soils Biology Fertility Institute (TSBF) procedure. Five points were chosen in each type small monolith (25 × 25 30 cm) dug out 5-m interval along transect with randomly positioned starting point, but perpendiculars slope. A total 20 monoliths (4 treatments 5 replications) taken across all types. Sampling SIMF carried April 2019 where macro-faunas are known be more active. To eight parameters measured: Shannon-Wiener index, Simpson Pielou’s measure evenness, Margalef’s Number Occurrence Index, Relative Density (individuals per square meter) taxon density Bray-Curtis similarity index. The data further analyzed using ANOVA general linear model determine variation type, respectively. Results In general, 332 individuals, 10 orders, 12 families, 15 species identified, from collected samples. There significant differences ( p < 0.05) among for except wireworm, spiders, millipedes. Overall lowest outfields highest land. Bray-Curtis’ between sampled sites s16 s19 (2%) s1 (crop fields) s14 (homestead fields). Conclusion results revealed that positively influenced by negatively outfields. Therefore, maintenance continuous litter cover surface application wide range organic fertilizers (farmyard manure, household refuse, compost) is very much critical prevent decrease SIMF.