The use of cover crops contributes to soil management by improvingtheir biological characteristics. The aim of this study was to determinethe contribution of winter cover crops in mesofauna and macrofaunacommunity. The work was developed at the experimental area of theFederal University of Santa Maria, on Frederico Wesphalen campus, inrandomized block design, in a factorial 6 x 4, being six winter covercrops (oats - Avena sativa L.; ryegrass - Lolium multiflorum L.; canola- Brassica napus L.; linseed - Linum usitatissimum L.; triticale - Triticosecale Witt. and fallow vegetated area) and four sampling times (0, 50,100 and 150 days after sowing), with four repetitions. Samples were collectedwith PROVID traps, staying in the field for seven days. The capturedindividuals from the traps were identified by class or order. It wasevaluated the quantity of individuals and the Margalef richness index,Simpson dominance, Shannon diversity and Pielou evenness. The multivariableanalysis of different sampling times was realized based onthe number of individuals. The results showed that winter cover cropscontribute to increasing amount of individuals of soil fauna. The usedcover crop used and its development stage induce the Shannon diversityindex and the Simpson dominance.
