<![CDATA[Mesofauna and soil macrofauna occur across various spaces and depths. This study aims to analyze the distribution of mesofauna and soil macrofauna and their relationships with soil physical properties in oil palm and rubber plantations at Tanah Raja Plantation, Serdang Bedagai Regency. Sampling was conducted from November to December 2025 using pitfall traps and hand-sorting at three depth levels (0-20 cm, 20-40 cm, and 40-60 cm), employing a quantitative comparative approach. The identification results showed that as many as 25 species were found, classified into 4 classes, 9 orders, and 16 families, totaling 115 individuals. In oil palm land, 17 species (62 individuals) were recorded, while in rubber land, 12 species (53 individuals) were recorded. The highest abundance of soil fauna was concentrated at a surface depth of 0-20 cm and gradually decreased at the next depths in oil palm (27, 24, and 11 individuals). However, in rubber, the numbers were 24, 10, and 19 individuals, resulting in an increase in returns at a depth of 40–60 cm. The diversity index (H') in oil palm land was 2.35 and in rubber was 1.74, both classified in the medium category. The evenness index was high (0.83 and 0.70), and the Simpson dominance index was low (0.11 and 0.29), although the rubber community was dominated by a single species (52.8% of individuals). Rarefied species richness was higher in oil palm (15.7 species) than in rubber (12 species). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the variables pH and soil texture were not significantly related to the number of soil fauna individuals (model p = 0.617), although the small number of observations limits this inference.]]>
Copyrights © 2026
