Dynamics of soil fauna after plantation of perennial energy crops on polluted soils

Growing demand for alternative energy sources has led to an increased production of biomass crops. In order to limit the use of fertile agricultural land for producing bioenergy, low quality agricultural land, as well as degraded or drastically disturbed soils have been proposed for the cropping of bioenergy cultivars. Our work aimed at assessing the dynamics of soil invertebrate diversity after plantation of perennial energy crops on metal polluted soils. The results were compared with invertebrate diversity dynamics in soils of other plots, representative either for the dominant land occupancies in the study area, or for unpolluted soil situations. We investigated taxonomic, compositional and functional dimensions of diversity in soil- and surface-dwelling communities. Changes in land use from annual crops to perennial energy crops led to a higher number of individuals in soil. No or few changes in taxonomic richness were recorded with an increasing age of energy cropping. Regarding functional diversity, the proportions of resident invertebrates tended to vary with the age of energy cropping, but neither the trophic composition nor the body spectra were modified. Our findings highlighted an increase of soil carrying capacity after perennial energy crop plantation on metal polluted soils, but effects on invertebrate diversity were limited.

► Soil fauna density and activity was increased under energy crop.
► Energy crop aging induced high assemblage heterogeneity.
► Energy crops presented high β-diversity with reference situations.
► Functional diversity (size, food, mobility) changed little.
► Energy crop effects depended on the dimension of soil biodiversity which was explored.