Vladimír Langraf 1, Kornélia Petrovičová2 and Janka Schlarmannová1
1 Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Department of Zoology and Anthropology, 94901 Nitra, Slovakia
2 University of Agriculture in Nitra, Institute of Plant and Environmental Sciences, 94901 Nitra, Slovakia
Langraf, V., Petrovičová, K. & Schlarmannová, J. (2023). The dispersion of Coleoptera in ecological and conventional farming conditions. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 29 (1), 117–123
Changes in the structures of abundance of Coleoptera reflect changes in the ecological status of their habitats. The aim of this research was to assess the dispersion of individual Coleoptera in ecological and conventional farming conditions and the influence of environmental variables (pH soil, potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen) on the abundance of Coleoptera. Between the years 2018 to 2021, we collected 18 207 individual Coleoptera in ecological farming conditions (Pisum sativum, Grass mixture, Triticum spelta and T. aestivum) and conventional farming conditions (Brassica napus, Hordeum vulgare and Zea mays). We used the pitfall trap method for sampling. The dispersion of individual Coleoptera was highest around Zea mays crops (integrated farming) and Grass mixture (ecological farming). We confirmed an increasing number of individuals where there were increasing values of potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen in ecological farming. In contrast, we found a declining number of individuals with declining values of potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen in conventional farming. Our results suggest that agricultural intensification affects the abundance of Coleoptera in ecological and conventional farming conditions. An abundance of Coleoptera and soil structure stability are important for the production of biomass and also affect crop yields.