Positive Effects of Inter‐Row Vegetation on Soil Fauna and Organic Matter Decomposition in Mediterranean Vineyards

ABSTRACTSoil is a key compartment providing important ecosystem services for sustainable agriculture. Our study examined the effects of three inter‐row vegetation types on soil biological activity, mesofauna, and organic matter decomposition in 15 Mediterranean vineyards of South‐eastern France. The three vegetation types included inter‐rows sown with a high‐diversity plant mixture, inter‐rows with spontaneous vegetation, and tilled inter‐rows with very low vegetation cover. Soil respiration was measured as a proxy of soil biological activity, mesofauna was extracted using the Berlèze‐Tullgren method, and organic matter decomposition was evaluated using the tea‐bag index method. Soil respiration and springtail densities were significantly higher in vegetated inter‐rows, with respiration rates being twice as high and springtail densities nearly 10 times greater on average. Several springtail groups (Entomobryomorpha, Symphypleona) and mites (Mesostigmata) were more than twice as abundant in high‐diversity sown inter‐rows compared to tilled ones, whereas no significant differences were observed between sown and spontaneously vegetated vineyards. However, the decomposition of standardised teabag biomass was marginally higher in tilled inter‐rows, suggesting that the greater biological activity and mesofauna density in vegetated inter‐rows were mainly driven by higher organic matter content. Our findings highlight the beneficial effects of species‐rich inter‐row vegetation on soil fertility of Mediterranean vineyards.