Reducing tillage intensity benefits the soil micro‐ and mesofauna in a global meta‐analysis

Soil fauna drives crucial processes of energy and nutrient cycling in agricultural systems, influences the quality crops pest incidence. tillage is most influential manipulation soil structure, has a profound influence on biology its provision ecosystem services. The objective this study was to quantify through meta-analyses effects reducing intensity density diversity micro- mesofaunal communities, how these vary among different pedoclimatic conditions interact with concurrent management practices. We present results global meta-analysis available literature data intensities taxonomic functional groups mesofauna. collected paired observations (conventional vs. reduced forms tillage/no-tillage) from 133 studies across 33 countries. Our show that or no-tillage increases total springtails (+35%), mites (+23%), enchytraeids (+37%) compared more intense methods. for nematode feeding groups, life-forms springtails, mite showed higher densities under conventional omnivorous nematodes (+53%), epedaphic (+81%) hemiedaphic (+84%) oribatid (+43%) mesostigmatid (+57%) mites. Furthermore, mesofauna varied depth, climate texture, as well method, frequency, fertilisation, herbicide application. findings suggest can have positive communities areas subjected long-term intensive cultivation will be useful support decision making faunal facilitate modelling efforts agroecosystems. HIGHLIGHTS Global estimate effect Reduced springtail, enchytraeid Effects springtail life suborders depth depend method frequency