Impact of young shelterbelts on organic matter content and development of microbial and faunal communities of adjacent fields

The paper summarizes results of investigations done in 1999-2000 by several authors in Wielkopolska region, (western Poland) near Turew in young midfield shelterbelts and adjacent cereal fields. It was found that the soil organic matter content, as well as microbial and faunal biomass decrease gradually from the shelterbelt toward the field centre. The annual increase of carbon was assessed and possible sources of it (wind erosion, leaf fall, input of invertebrate faeces)considered. The results suggest, that excreta contribute significantly to total carbon input. The shelterbelts influence the biomass, density and composition of many soil and above-ground invertebrate taxa and individual size of animals occurring in bordering fields.