The Impact of Agroecological Practices on the Biodiversity of Arthropod Fauna in Târnave Vineyard

Abstract

In viticultural ecosystems, considered energy-intensive systems, the amplification of biocoenotic imbalances with the onset of pest explosions, is a problem and also an evidence of the biodiversity’s decline. In this study the biodiversity was quantified in Târnave vineyard, in the period 2016-2018, in the experimental plots of SCDVV Blaj cultivated with the Fetească regală cultivar, for two cultivation technologies, the extensive agroecological (EA) and the intensive conventional (IC). The determined biodiversity characterization indicators were: the species richness, Simpson biodiversity index (D), Shanon biodiversity index (H) and Equity index (E). In case of the Heteroptera group EA technology doubled the number of the arthropods (11.333 ± 0.882 for EA versus 5.33 ± 1.453 for IC). The reverse effect was observed for Coleoptera were in the case of EA it was found a taxa richness of 8.667 ± 0.882 and for IC one of 15.667 ± 1.764. Considering the increase of the number of useful species from the order Heteroptera in the agroecological variant compared to the conventional variant, we consider that the implementation of the agroecological technology for a longer period (5-10 years) can be a long-term solution that will contribute to reducing the risk induced by the intensive practices, while reducing the dependence of culture on conventional energy resources.