Implications of Agrochemical Application on Soil Fauna and Ecosystem and Their Sustainable Alternatives

Soil fauna biodiversity refers to organisms that vary in size, have diverse feeding habits, functionality, and niches within edaphic systems, and are vital criteria for their classification and survival. Some soil fauna may reside either in their developmental or adult stages or both in the soil ecosystem and contribute immensely to ecological well-being of the system. A soil ecosystem rich in biodiversity can afford self-perpetuating ecosystem services that encourage the maintenance of soil structure and provision of resistance to biological, chemical, and physical soil degradation. Some of the functions of soil fauna diversity include biotransformation of organic pollutants, suppressing plant pests and diseases, and are efficient in nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, facilitating microbial decomposition activities, and enforcing compliance of other soil organisms with soil carrying capacity. In the soil, they burrow and create channels and thus increase aeration, water infiltration, and retention capacity. Through the production of castes and frass feces, and the formation of large aggregates, soil fauna may increase soil fertility, reduce soil compaction, erosion, and combat climate change. Agrochemicals (pesticides and fertilizers) are used indiscriminately to suppress, eliminate agricultural pest populations, and improve soil nutrients to promote better yield and productivity. These agrochemicals may have negative consequences on soil ecosystems and negatively impact the fauna biodiversity because they are exposed to the active ingredients that remain in the soil. The devastating effects of agrochemical interaction with soil fauna biodiversity may severely alter ecosystem services.. This chapter focuses on discussing some of the consequences on soil fauna and ecosystem when treated with agrochemicals. Agrochemical use affects soil fauna species richness, abundance, dominance, community structure, and functional diversity in the ecosystem would be explored. On the other hand, environmentally sustainable agricultural practices, such as cover cropping and composting, biological control mechanisms, formulated organics, and organic farming, and others in lieu of agrochemical use, would increase crop productivity, food availability, and security without harming soil fauna or ecosystem.