In order to explore the influence of biochar application on the community structure of soil arthropods and their association with soil parameters, including soil temperature, humidity, pH, electrical conductivity and soil organic carbon, biochar produced from maize straw was applied at the rates of 0, 5, 10, 20 and 50 t/hm² in an alkaline soil farmland in Guizhou. A total number of 14 133 individuals of soil arthropods were captured, belonging to 6 classes, 21 groups. An appropriate amount of biochar application, e.g. 10 t/hm², increased the individuals and group numbers of soil arthropods. Negative effect of biochar on soil arthropods was observed with excessive biochar application, e.g. 50 t/hm². Canonical correspondence analysis showed that soil arthropods community was significantly correlated with the measured environmental factors (adjusted R²=24.81%, P<0.01), and most affected by soil temperature, which explained 16.1% of the variance. In general, the application of biochar changed soil microenvironment, affecting the community structure of soil arthropods. An appropriate amount of biochar application, e.g. 10 t/hm² was beneficial to farmland soil arthropods community. Further studies were needed to focus on different types of soils and biochars.