Abstract
The effect of conservation and conventional tillage on carabid communities was compared using pitfall trapping in two commercial barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) fields located 4 km apart on similar soils. Carabid abundance was significantly higher under conventional tillage but abundances of individual species varied between the two fields. Agonum placidum Say and two Amara Bonelli species were more abundant at the conventional tillage farm whereas Pterostichus adstrictus Eschscholtz and three Bembidion Latreille species were significantly more abundant at the reduced tillage farm. Slightly more carabid species were collected in this latter field and species diversity and evenness were significantly higher.