Soil fauna in sheep-grazed hill pastures under organic and conventional livestock management and in an adjacent ungrazed pasture

We conclude that organic management when limited to a comparison of livestock pest control is not beneficial to soil invertebrates. Management practices such as stocking rates and fertiliser regime, by altering the soil physical environment and food resources, are more important in influencing invertebrate populations in this soil. Some would argue these altered management practices are an integral part of an organic production system.