Assessing the Impact of Agrivoltaic Systems on Pasture Plant and Soil Microarthropod Communities

ABSTRACT Agrivoltaic systems (AVS) integrate renewable energy production with agricultural use, creating novel microclimatic gradients that can affect ecosystem structure and function. However, the ecological consequences of these gradients on vegetation composition and soil biological quality remain poorly understood, particularly in pasture‐based AVS configurations. In this study, we investigated seasonal and spatial changes in plant functional groups and soil microarthropod communities across shading gradients in a Mediterranean AVS pasture using the Pasture Value (PV) and the Soil Biological Quality‐arthropods (QBS‐ar) indices. Results revealed marked seasonal differences driven by panel‐induced microclimatic variability. In spring, strong microclimatic contrasts generated pronounced differences across treatments, with inter‐row areas showing higher PV and QBS‐ar values and supporting more diverse plant and soil faunal communities. These areas supported the co‐dominance of legumes and a richer assemblage of microarthropods, indicating a positive relationship between productive, nitrogen‐fixing vegetation and soil faunal diversity. By contrast, shaded under‐panel zones hosted stress‐tolerant forbs and showed reduced QBS‐ar values, indicating lower biological quality. These integrative indicators can guide AVS pasture management while supporting long‐term monitoring of soil fertility and ecosystem functioning.