EARTHWORMS AS BIOINDICATORS OF SUSTAINABILITY IN COCOA PRODUCTION SYSTEMS (Theobroma cacao L): A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN AGROECOLOGICAL AND CONVENTIONAL MANAGEMENT

Abstract

Earthworms are widely recognized as organisms that are sensitive to changes in soil management; however, there is a gap in our understanding of their response in fine-aroma cocoa systems under different management regimes in tropical contexts. The objective of this study was to compare earthworm density, biomass, and diversity, as well as soil physicochemical properties, between agroecological and conventional cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) production systems. A longitudinal observational study was conducted with sampling during two climatic seasons in 2024. Earthworms were collected using the TSBF method and classified into ecological groups, while diversity was estimated using the Shannon-Wiener index based on morphotypes. Statistical analysis included normality tests, mixed linear models, and Student’s t-tests (?=0.05). The results showed significant increases in density (up to +249%) and biomass (up to +236%) in agroecological systems (p<0.001), as well as greater diversity (H´=2.15 vs. 1.02). In addition, these systems exhibited higher organic matter content (+73.9%), moisture, and lower soil acidity. It is concluded that earthworms consistently respond to agroecological management, demonstrating their potential as a biological indicator of edaphic conditions, although further studies are needed to establish causal relationships and their role as indicators of sustainability.