Soil arthropod species and their abundance in different chili management practices in freshwater swamps of South Sumatra, Indonesia

The chili management practices can influence the predatory arthropod community. This study aimed to identify soil arthropod species and examine their abundance in different chili management practices in freshwater swamps of South Sumatra. The survey was conducted in three types of chili field, first without mulch and synthetic insecticides, and by fertilizing using manure (EF). The Conventional 1 (C-1) used plastic mulch, synthetic fertilizers, and synthetic insecticides. The Conventional 2 (C-2) used insecticides and synthetic fertilizers but without mulch. The total of all soil arthropod species was found in the different chili management practices of 24 species originating from Insecta, Arachnida, and Diplopoda. The highest number of soil arthropod species was found in EF, while the least number was found in C-1. This survey found species of predatory mites (Macrocheles dispar), spiders (Pardosa birmanica), and predatory insects (Coccinella transversalis) and other important predators such as Pheropsophus occipitalis and Pardosa pseudoannulata. The abundance of soil arthropods either predators, herbivores or neutral insects was the highest in EF, while the lowest one was in the C-1. Overall, different chili management practices affected the number of species and abundance of soil arthropods; the environmentally friendly plot has the highest number of species and the largest abundance.