Fast improvement of macrofauna communities and soil quality in plantain crops converted to agroecological practices

Plantain (Musa paradisiaca AAB) is one of the main staple food crops in tropical areas, particularly Caribbean region. Therefore, supporting a sustainable production plantain this zone crucial to secure and provide income millions people. We hypothesized that agroecological practices based on multi-functionality biodiversity preserve soil should i) increase macrofauna abundance, ii) enhance chemical fertility, iii) improve physical structure, iv) reduce plant infestation by parasitic nematodes, v) immediately achieve similar yield as conventional systems. For purpose, we compared systems at farm scale. The system consisted combination three innovations: inputs vermicompost replace mineral fertilizers, use healthy planting material mulching living crop control weeds. Ten months after plantation, abundance had doubled taxonomic richness increased 45% system. In addition, structure was improved (52% biogenic aggregates vs. 21 % systems), well free-living nematodes associated roots 73 Radopholus similis, decreased Moreover, achieved level than Agroecological are thus an efficient option allow fast transition from environmentally friendly cropping