A long-term tillage study plot was sampled to evaluate the effects of tillage on soil-dwelling microarthropods. Soil (300 cm 3) was sampled on four dates during two growing seasons from conventional and no-till plots of winter wheat. Microarthropods were extracted using Tullgren funnels and enumerated into seven taxonomic categories: (1) Total abundance, (2) Oribatida, (3) Mesostigmata, (4) Prostigmata, (5) Astigmata, (6) Collembola, and (7) other invertebrates. Abundance within six of the seven groups was greater in no-till than conventionally tilled soil on seven of the eight sampling dates: (1) Total abundance in conventional till 6.441.68 and 21.395.35 in no-till, (2) Oribatida in conventional till 1.060.36 and 7.332.23 in no till, and (3) Other invertebrates in conventional till 4.500.82 and 10.672.85 in no till. The Mesostigmata and Collembola showed significant differences between conventionally tilled and no-till plots on multiple dates. In contrast, mites in the group Prostigmata were more abundant in conventionally tilled soil (3.891.13 versus 2.000.88 in no till). Abundance of soil microarthropods in no-till plots generally increased (21.395.35 in Season 1 to 42.424.59 in Season 2), which might indicate gradual recovery of the habitat. Assessments of soil quality in no-till agricultural systems should include evaluations of beneficial soil fauna such as microarthropods.
