Soil and Water Research - In Press

Impact of soil-conserving strip cropping on ground beetle communitiesOriginal Paper

Lukáš Puch, Bořivoj Šarapatka, Ivan Hadrián Tuf

Soil-conserving strip cropping is increasingly promoted as an effective measure to reduce water erosion on sloping arable land, yet its consequences for biodiversity remain insufficiently understood. We evaluated the effects of strip cropping on ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) communities during two growing seasons (2023–2024) in South Moravia (Czech Republic), comparing long-term strip-cropped fields with conventionally managed monocultures. Ground beetles were sampled using pitfall traps, and differences in diversity, activity density, and species composition were analysed using univariate statistics, Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA), and Generalized Additive Models (GAMs). Strip cropping consistently supported higher ground beetle diversity than conventional management, while significantly higher activity density became evident after longer implementation. Furthermore, this management enhanced diversity at upper erosional positions, indicating reduced environmental stress. Species-specific analyses showed that several xerophilous and conservation-relevant species were associated with habitats promoted by strip cropping. Our findings demonstrate that the ecological benefits of strip cropping extend beyond erosion control. By increasing within-field habitat heterogeneity and improving conditions for ground beetle assemblages, strip cropping simultaneously supports biodiversity and soil conservation. These results highlight its potential as a multifunctional management practice capable of reconciling agricultural production with biodiversity conservation in erosion-prone landscapes.