不同基肥对黄瓜根际土壤微生物群落多样性的影响

分别以RAPD分子生物学方法和BIOLOG生理学方法,研究了不同基肥对黄瓜根际土壤微生物群落DNA序列多样性和群落功能多样性的影响。结果表明,在本试验条件下,基肥为75000 kg/hm2有机肥处理和75000 kg/hm2有机肥加300 kg/hm2复合肥处理最好;基肥为600 kg/hm2复合肥处理而使土壤微生物群落DNA序列丰富度指数和多样性指数显著下降,与对照的DNA序列相似系数最低;有机肥处理有利于土壤微生物群落DNA序列多样性、均匀度和黄瓜产量的提高。此外,不同基肥处理改变了土壤微生物对单一碳源的利用能力。     

Soil microbial communities resistant to changes in plant functional group composition

The soil community is an often ignored part of research which links plant biodiversity and ecosystem functioning despite their influence on numerous functions such as decomposition and nutrient cycling. Few consistent patterns have been detected that link plant and soil community composition. We used a removal experiment in a northern Canadian grassland to examine the effects of plant functional group identity on soil microbial community structure and function. Plant functional groups (graminoids, legumes and forbs) were removed independently from plots for five growing seasons (2003-2007) and in the fifth year effects on the soil microbial community were examined using substrate-induced respiration (SIR - a measure of metabolic diversity) and phospholipid fatty acid analysis (PLFA - a measure of microbial community composition). Removal treatments were also crossed with both a fertilizer treatment and a fungicide treatment to determine if effects of functional group identity on the soil community were context dependent. Plant functional group identity had almost no effect on the soil microbial community as measured by either SIR or PLFA. Likewise, soil properties including total carbon, pH, moisture and nutrients showed a limited response to plant removals in the fifth year after removals. We found a direct effect of fertilizer on the soil community, with fertilized plots having decreased metabolic diversity, with a decreased ability to metabolize amino acids and a phenolic acid, but there was no direct soil microbial response to fungicide. We show that in this northern Canadian grassland the soil microbial community is relatively insensitive to changes in plant functional group composition, and suggest that in northern ecosystems, where plant material is only slowly incorporated into the soil, five growing seasons may be insufficient to detect the impact of a changing plant community on the soil microbes.     

不同作物间作对黄瓜病害及土壤微生物群落多样性的影响

分别采用RAPD和T-RFLP技术,研究了小麦、毛苕子和三叶草分别与黄瓜间作对黄瓜病害、黄瓜根际土壤微生物群落多样性和黄瓜产量的影响。结果表明,小麦、毛苕子与黄瓜间作均能提高黄瓜根际土壤微生物群落多样性,其中,小麦-黄瓜间作对黄瓜根际土壤微生物群落多样性的影响最为突出;3种作物分别与黄瓜间作均显著提高了黄瓜产量(p<0.01),其中小麦-黄瓜间作的产量优势最强;同时,3种作物分别与黄瓜间作均降低了黄瓜角斑病、白粉病、霜霉病和枯萎病的病情指数和尖孢镰刀菌的数量。间作有利于提高土壤微生物群落的多样性、减轻病害、提高黄瓜产量。     

苯丙烯酸胁迫对黄瓜幼苗生长和抗氧化代谢特性的影响

采用营养钵土培的方法,研究了外源苯丙烯酸对津美1号、绿衣天使、C90和翠龙等不同黄瓜品种幼苗生长和叶片抗氧化酶活性及活性氧代谢的影响。结果表明,外源苯丙烯酸胁迫对黄瓜幼苗生长具有很强的抑制作用,并随着胁迫浓度的增大受抑制的程度加强。在苯丙烯酸胁迫下,黄瓜叶片的超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化物酶（POD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶（APX）活性表现为低浓度升高,高浓度下降的趋势;超氧阴离子（O2-.）产生速率、过氧化氢（H2O2）含量、膜脂过氧化产物丙二醛（MDA）含量及渗透调节物质脯氨酸（Pro）含量、可溶性糖含量随着苯丙烯酸浓度的升高而显著增加。不同黄瓜品种对苯丙烯酸胁迫的响应存在着品种间差异。     

铅锌银尾矿区土壤微生物活性及其群落功能多样性研究

通过对浙江省天台铅锌银尾矿区土壤微生物活性指标以及微生物群落功能多样性研究 ,结果表明 ,尾矿污染区土壤几种重金属含量比非矿区土壤有明显的增加。尾矿区土壤微生物特征发生了显著的变化 ,微生物生物量和可培养细菌数量显著降低 ,但土壤基础呼吸和微生物代谢商 (qCO2 )值却明显升高。Bi olog测试结果显示 ,随着重金属污染程度的加剧其土壤微生物群落结构发生了相应变化 ,尾矿区土壤微生物群落代谢剖面 (AWCD)及群落丰富度、多样性指数均显著低于非矿区土壤 ,且供试土壤间均达极显著水平差异 (p <0 .0 1) ,表明尾矿区重金属污染引起了土壤微生物群落功能多样性的下降 ,减少了能利用有关碳源底物的微生物数量、降低了微生物对单一碳源底物的利用能力     

Experimental warming effects on the microbial community of a temperate mountain forest soil

Soil microbial communities mediate the decomposition of soil organic matter (SOM). The amount of carbon (C) that is respired leaves the soil as CO₂ (soil respiration) and causes one of the greatest fluxes in the global carbon cycle. How soil microbial communities will respond to global warming, however, is not well understood. To elucidate the effect of warming on the microbial community we analyzed soil from the soil warming experiment Achenkirch, Austria. Soil of a mature spruce forest was warmed by 4 °C during snow-free seasons since 2004. Repeated soil sampling from control and warmed plots took place from 2008 until 2010. We monitored microbial biomass C and nitrogen (N). Microbial community composition was assessed by phospholipid fatty acid analysis (PLFA) and by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) of ribosomal RNA genes. Microbial metabolic activity was estimated by soil respiration to biomass ratios and RNA to DNA ratios. Soil warming did not affect microbial biomass, nor did warming affect the abundances of most microbial groups. Warming significantly enhanced microbial metabolic activity in terms of soil respiration per amount of microbial biomass C. Microbial stress biomarkers were elevated in warmed plots. In summary, the 4 °C increase in soil temperature during the snow-free season had no influence on microbial community composition and biomass but strongly increased microbial metabolic activity and hence reduced carbon use efficiency.     

外源腐解微生物的物种组合对土壤微生物群落结构及代谢活性的影响

本文采用饲料类芽孢杆菌(Paenibacillus pabuli,P)、深红紫链霉菌(Streptomyces violaceorubidus,S)和黄绿木霉(Trichoderma aureoviride,T),组合构建了3种单菌剂(P、S和T)、3种两菌种复合菌剂(PT、PS和ST)及1种3菌种复合菌剂(PST),并将之添加到红壤中,监测各菌剂添加后土壤总磷脂脂肪酸(PLFAs)量、特征微生物PLFAs百分含量、土壤呼吸速率及总代谢熵的变化,旨在探明外源腐解微生物的物种组合对土壤微生物群落结构和代谢活性的影响,进而为优化有机物分解菌剂种群配置提供参考。结果显示,添加单菌剂的P、S和T处理及添加两菌种复合菌剂的PT和PS处理,土壤微生物生物量显著增加,增幅17.2%~121.6%(P0.05)。添加外源腐解微生物后,各处理的土壤微生物群落的细菌百分含量基本稳定在79.6%~83.1%,真菌百分含量显著增加8.8%~50.6%;而放线菌百分含量除P和ST处理外,其他处理显著降低9.4%~69.8%。PLFAs数据的主成分分析表明,各外源菌剂处理与CK处理间的群落结构变异由小到大依次为:接种单菌剂的P、S和T处理,接种两菌种复合菌剂的PT、PS和ST处理,接种3菌种复合菌剂的PST处理。添加单菌剂的P、T处理以及添加两菌种复合菌剂的ST处理,在短期内影响了土壤微生物的对数生长,使土壤呼吸速率的峰值分别提高48.7%、53.7%和78.7%;且外源腐解微生物组合的物种数量越多,土壤微生物进入潜伏期所需的时间越长。从外源腐解微生物对土壤肥力的长期影响来看,两菌种复合菌剂ST的添加使土壤微生物代谢活性提高28.9%,因此该处理的土壤碳矿化量增加11.1%;添加单菌剂的S处理使土壤微生物代谢活性显著降低32.4%,因此该处理的土壤碳矿化量仅降低7.3%;而添加两菌种复合菌剂的PS处理和3菌种复合菌剂的PST处理,在保持代谢活性不变的情况下,其土壤碳矿化量也降低5.8%~8.7%,其原因有待进一步研究。综上所述,外源腐解微生物的添加会改变土壤微生物的群落结构及其生长轨迹,且随外源腐解微生物组合的物种数量增多这一干扰程度越大,而土壤微生物代谢活性与外源腐解微生物组合的物种数量无显著相关性。     

黄瓜种子发芽期微生物代谢的群落特性研究

用 BIOLOG GN 板方法研究了 4 个黄瓜品种, 在发芽 12h、36h 、72h 时种子周围的微生物群落结构和功能多样 性。结果表明, 在微生物的碳代谢特征上, 不同黄瓜品种在发芽 12h 、36h、72h 时有显著差别, 同一品种不同处理之 间也有差异。 在碳代谢类型上, 糖类利用程度最高( OD>1.4) , 氨基酸类利用程度最低( OD<0.8) , 有机酸的利用居 中;黄瓜种子发芽期间, 微生物在碳源代谢方面优势群落的演变特点是:氨基酸类代谢群※有机酸类代谢群※糖 类代谢群, 且最终以代谢糖类的微生物为优势种群。     

肉桂酸对蚕豆枯萎病发生的影响及间作缓解机制

采用盆栽试验,研究了肉桂酸不同浓度(C0(0.0 mg kg~(-1))、C1(14.0 mg kg~(-1))、C2(28.0 mg kg~(-1))和C3(56.0 mg kg~(-1)))处理对蚕豆枯萎病发生的影响及小麦与蚕豆间作对肉桂酸自毒效应的缓解机制。结果表明:(1)蚕豆单作条件下,肉桂酸处理显著降低了根系的过氧化物酶(POD)活性并增加了丙二醛(MDA)含量,导致根系脂质过氧化伤害加剧;肉桂酸处理降低了根际微生物的活性(AWCD值)、香农(Shannon)多样性指数(H)和丰富度指数(S)并改变了微生物群落结构;肉桂酸处理显著增加蚕豆根际土壤中镰刀菌数量,提高了枯萎病病情指数并降低根系干重。(2)肉桂酸胁迫下,与单作蚕豆相比,小麦与蚕豆间作提高了蚕豆根系的POD活性,降低了MDA含量,提高了根际微生物对碳源的利用能力及根际微生物的H和S,明显改变了根际微生物群落结构;间作显著降低了蚕豆根际土壤中镰刀菌数量及枯萎病病情指数,显著增加了蚕豆地上部干重和根系干重。表明小麦与蚕豆间作一方面提高蚕豆对枯萎病菌的生理抗性,另一方面有效调节根际微生物活性和多样性,从而缓解了肉桂酸引起的枯萎病危害,促进了蚕豆生长,但间作减轻枯萎病危害的效果受肉桂酸处理浓度的影响。因此,利用非寄主作物小麦的化感效应而采取的间作模式是缓解蚕豆自毒效应的有效措施。     

水分条件对水稻土微生物群落多样性及活性的影响

采用BIOLOG碳素利用法、磷脂脂肪酸（PLFA）法和土壤酶活性测定等方法比较了三种水分条件（淹育、淹育晾干、非淹育）对水稻土微生物群落多样性及活性的影响。结果表明，淹育处理水稻土的脱氢酶、蔗糖酶活性明显高于淹育晾干和非淹育处理，并导致该土壤的基础呼吸升高。BIOLOG碳素利用法表明，非淹育处理的微生物群落平均吸光值（AWCD）显著低于淹育和淹育晾干处理。磷脂脂肪酸（PLFA）实验发现，淹育水稻土的真菌特征脂肪酸（18：2w6，9c）所占比例减少，真菌特征脂肪酸（18：2w6，9c）与细菌特征脂肪酸（15：0i＋15：0a＋16：0i＋16：1w5c＋17：0i＋17：0a＋17：0cy＋17：0＋18：1w7c＋19：0cy）的比值下降；水分条件变化没有改变土壤微生物环丙基脂肪酸19：0cy的相对丰度，但非淹育处理的环丙基脂肪酸17：0cy相对丰度明显高于另外二种处理。BIOLOG碳素利用法的群落水平生理剖面（CLPP）和磷脂脂肪酸（PLFA）测定结果经聚类分析后，发现淹育和淹育晾干处理的土壤微生物多样性在较低的距离尺度可聚成一类，且与非淹育土壤具有明显差异。淹育水稻土与淹育晾干相比，尽管土壤微生物群落结构和功能多样性有一定的相似性，但微生物的种群组成和活性仍发生了较大的变化。     

Crop rhizospheric microbial community structure and functional diversity as affected by maize and potato intercropping

Field trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of different cropping patterns (maize monocropping, maize and potato intercropping, potato monocropping) on microbial abundance, community structure, and microbial functional diversity using plate culture and Biolog technique. Results showed that compared with monocropping, intercropping increased the abundance of soil bacteria, fungi, and actinomyces in rhizosphere surrounding maize and potato. The average well color development (AWCD) and Shannon index (H) were higher in intercropping soil than that found in monocropping soil. The ability of rhizospheric soil microorganisms in utilizing six types of carbon sources had definite differences, and the most dominant community structure was the carbohydrates metabolic groups. Principal component analysis demonstrated that intercropping changed significantly soil microbial community functional diversity depending mainly on carbohydrates and carboxylic acids. Our findings suggested that maize–potato intercropping has positive effects on the improvement of soil microbial abundances, activity, and functional diversity.     

Effects of mercury on soil microbial communities in tropical soils of French Guyana

In gold mining regions, the risk of soil pollution by mercury is a major environmental hazard, especially in tropical areas where soil microflora plays a major part in soil functioning, major bio-geochemical cycles and carbon turn-over. The impact of mercury pollution on soil microflora should thus be carefully assessed in such environments while taking into consideration the specificities of tropical soils. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of mercury (0, 1 and 20 μg of inorganic mercury per gram of soil) on the functional diversity and genetic structure of microbial communities in a tropical soil. We investigated the effects of mercury on tropical soil microflora using soil microcosms spiked with mercury and incubated at 28 °C for 1 month. Microcosm flora, its biomass and its activity, as well as its functional and genetic structure, were followed by cultural methods, measures of respiration, ECOLOG plates, and DGGE (denaturing gel gradient electrophoresis), respectively. Fate of total and bioavailable mercury was estimated by CVAFS (cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry). Results obtained for the microcosms enriched with only 1 μg g^?1 mercury were indistinguishable from controls. Conversely, in the presence of high mercury contents (20 μg g⁽¹), an immediate effect was measured on soil respiration, functional diversity (ECOLOG plates) and genetic structure (DGGE), although no significant effect was observed on plate counts or microbial biomass. In addition, whereas microbial activities (respiration and functional diversity) rapidly regained control values, a lasting effect of the high mercury concentration was observed on the genetic structure of the soil microbial community. These modifications took place during the first week of incubation when total mercury concentration was declining and bioavailable mercury was at its highest.This multiple approach study is one of the first attempts at investigating the effects of mercury on soil microbial communities in tropical soils. Our results demonstrate that in the tropical soil under study, mercury affects the soil microbial communities in a different manner than was previously reported in temperate soils. Furthermore, mercury toxicity on soil microbes may be modulated by typical tropical soil characteristics.     

沼液对河西绿洲葡萄园土壤微生物功能多样性的影响

为探明使用沼液对土壤质量的影响，明确土壤微生物功能多样性对沼液使用量和使用年限的响应，在甘肃祁连葡萄观光园进行等氮量替代和增施沼液处理，采用Biolog方法测定土壤微生物功能多样性。结果表明：（1）100%等氮量沼液处理的土壤微生物群落代谢活性最小，替代33%氮量处理的土壤微生物群落代谢活性最高，连续两年使用沼液的处理间差异大于一年。（2）试验地土壤微生物利用的主要碳源为碳水化合物类，使用沼液能够显著提高土壤微生物对氨基酸类和羧酸类碳源的利用率。连续两年使用沼液条件下，增施沼液处理（133%和167%）效果优于等氮量替代处理。（3）与单施化肥对照相比，使用沼液处理仅在提高土壤微生物均一度指数方面存在优势，且增施沼液处理（133%和167%）效果优于等氮量替代处理。（4）主成分分析表明，沼液使用量和使用年限对土壤微生物碳源利用水平以及代谢多样性的影响有差异，且使用年限增加能使各处理间变异程度增大。（5）碳水化合物类和氨基酸类碳源是引起不同沼液用量处理土壤微生物功能群分异的主要碳源，其中碳水化合物类是使用年限增加后土壤微生物群落变化的敏感碳源。（6）Pearson相关性分析表明，该试验地土壤微生物功能多样性与土壤有机质、碱解氮呈正相关关系，与速效磷、速效钾呈负相关关系。综上，长期使用沼液（尤其是沼液与化肥配施）有利于提高土壤微生物代谢活性和土壤微生物群落功能多样性，且当沼液使用量较大时能达到完全取代化肥的效果。     

退化喀斯特植被恢复与土壤微生物特征的关系

The mechanism of vegetation restoration on degraded karst regions has been a research focus of soil science and ecology for the last decade.In an attempt to preferably interpret the soil microbiological characteristic variation associated with vegetation restoration and further to explore the role of soil microbiology in vegetation restoration mechanism of degraded karst regions,we measured microbial biomass C and basal respiration in soils during vegetation restoration in Zhenfeng County of southwestern Guizhou Province,China.The community level physiological profiles(CLPP) of the soil microbial community to were estimated determine if vegetation changes were accompanied by changes in functioning of soil microbial communities.The results showed that soil microbial biomass C and microbial quotient(microbial biomass C/organic C) tended to increase with vegetation restoration,being in the order arboreal community stage > shrubby community stage > herbaceous community stage > bare land stage.Similar trend was found in the change of basal respiration(BR).The metabolic quotient(the ratio of basal respiration to microbial biomass,qCO 2) decreased with vegetation restoration,and remained at a constantly low level in the arboreal community stage.Analyses of the CLPP data indicated that vegetation restoration tended to result in higher average well color development,substrate richness,and functional diversity.Average utilization of specific substrate guilds was highest in the arboreal community stage.Principle component analysis of the CLPP data further indicated that the arboreal community stage was distinctly different from the other three stages.In conclusion,vegetation restoration improved soil microbial biomass C,respiration,and utilization of carbon sources,and decreased qCO 2,thus creating better soil conditions,which in turn could promote the restoration of vegetation on degraded karst regions.     

Soil microbial biomass and community composition as affected by cover crop diversity in a short‐term field experiment on a podzolized Stagnosol‐Cambisol

Background: Cover cropping appears as a useful land management practice with numerous benefits for ecosystem functions. Aim: The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of different winter cover crops on soil microbial biomass, activity, and community composition in intensively managed agriculture systems as function of cover crop diversity. Methods: For this purpose, an on‐farm experiment was conducted at a podzolized Stagnosol‐Cambisol during seven months growing oil radish as single cover crop and five different cover crop mixtures comprising 5 to 13 plant species. A fallow treatment was used as control. Phospholipid fatty acids were used to determine the soil microbial biomass and soil microbial community composition. Basal respiration of the soil microorganisms was measured as a proxy for microbial activity. Results: The results show that none of the cover crop mixture could increase soil organic carbon or total nitrogen content. Three cover crop mixtures and oil radish as single cover crop significantly increased soil microbial biomass by about 50% and all of the investigated cover crops significantly increased microbial respiration and metabolic quotient by 50–150%. Only highly diverse cover crop mixtures significantly increased individual microbial groups such as Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria, actinobacteria, and saprotropic and mycorrhizal fungi by about 20% compared to the control. However, the ratio of fungi to bacteria was not influenced by any of the cover crop mixtures under study. Conclusion: These findings corroborate that aboveground plant diversity is linked to belowground microbial diversity.     

种植方式对玉米不同生长期土壤微生物群落功能多样性的影响

为探讨玉米不同种植方式下土壤微生物群落功能多样性的差异,进行田间定点试验,采用Biolog方法分别研究了4行轮作、4行连作、8行轮作和8行连作的种植方式对玉米种植前、拔节期、抽穗期和收获期土壤微生物功能多样性的影响。结果表明:4种种植方式的土壤微生物均在种植前代谢活性最弱、功能多样性最低,在玉米抽穗期土壤微生物代谢活性最强,功能多样性最高。在种植玉米前,轮作的土壤微生物代谢活性和功能多样性高于连作,8行轮作和4行轮作土壤微生物的物种多样性指数分别比相应的连作高22.93%和11.42%;4行轮作的土壤微生物物种多样性指数比8行轮作低3.17%,而4行连作比8行连作高6.83%。在玉米拔节期、抽穗期及收获期连作土壤微生物功能多样性略高于轮作,且有4行连作大于8行连作的趋势,但差异均未达显著水平。种植前,4种种植模式的土壤微生物对6大类碳源的利用程度整体上都较低,降解碳水化合物类、羧酸类和聚合物类碳源的微生物是种植方式影响的主要土壤微生物类群;随着玉米的生长,土壤微生物对6大类碳源的利用都逐渐增强,玉米拔节期、抽穗期和收获期之间土壤微生物特征碳源没有较大差异,4种种植方式的土壤微生物对聚合物类碳源利用程度差异都不显著。PLS-EDA分析结果表明种植方式对土壤微生物产生较大影响,种植前8行轮作和4行连作的土壤微生物碳源利用模式具有相似性;种植玉米后4种种植方式的土壤微生物对碳源的利用模式存在较大差异,其中4行连作的土壤微生物在玉米拔节期和收获期对碳源的利用模式与其他3种种植方式差异最大。试验说明作物长期连作栽培会影响土壤微生物群落功能,降低土壤微生物物种多样性,引起土壤微生物群落结构与功能的失调。     

不同年限毛竹-白及复合系统土壤微生物群落多样性特点

为了揭示毛竹-白及复合经营系统中植物-土壤间的互作关系,在安徽省广德市邱村镇选择3个不同套种年限(1、3和4年)的毛竹-白及复合林分为研究对象,采用Biolog-ECO微平板技术,结合主成分分析对培养72 h土壤微生物群落功能多样性及其碳代谢特征进行分析.结果 表明,毛竹-白及复合林分的土壤微生物碳源平均颜色变化率、S...     

脱硫废弃物施用对盆栽油葵碱化土壤微生物多样性的影响

在宁夏平罗西大滩前进农场,利用盆栽试验以油葵为指示植物设置了脱硫废弃物5个不同施用量处理改良碱化土壤,采用Biolog Eco-plate技术对土壤微生物群落功能多样性进行了分析.结果表明:脱硫废弃物施用处理都能够降低土壤pH值0.06～0.29个单位;降低土壤全盐含量0.72～1.35 g/kg;脱硫废弃物施用能够明...     

多氯联苯污染土壤的微生物生态效应研究

以多氯联苯（Polychlorinated biphenyls,PCBs）自然污染的农田土壤为材料,分析土壤中微生物区系组成、生物量C、N、土壤基础呼吸以及微生物群落功能多样性的变化。研究结果表明,在以4-氯、5-氯同系物为主的PCBs污染土壤中,污染程度对土壤细菌、放线菌的数量影响不明显,而真菌的数量除与土壤污染程度有关,可能还受到土壤pH等性状的影响;土壤微生物C、N与土壤基础呼吸随污染程度的加剧呈下降趋势,但微生物C／N基本没有变化;Biolog分析显示,土壤微生物代谢剖面（AWCD）及Simpson指数在污染程度相差较大的两组土壤样品中差异均达到了显著性水平,表明PCBs污染引起了土壤微生物群落功能多样性下降,降低了微生物对不同单一碳源底物的利用能力。     

Rapid effects of plant species diversity and identity on soil microbial communities in experimental grassland ecosystems

Changes in plant community structure, including the loss of plant diversity may affect soil microbial communities. To test this hypothesis, plant diversity and composition were experimentally varied in grassland plots cultivated with monocultures or mixtures of 2, 3 or 4 species. We tested the effects of monocultures versus mixtures and of plant species composition on culturable soil bacterial activity, number of substrates used and catabolic diversity, microbial biomass N, microbial respiration, and root biomass. These properties were all measured 10 months after seeding the experiment. Soil bacterial activity, number of substrates used and catabolic diversity were measured in the different plant communities using BIOLOG GN and GP microplates, which are redox-based tests measuring capacity of soil culturable bacteria to use a variety of organic substrates. Microbial biomass N, microbial respiration, and root biomass were insensitive to plant diversity. Culturable soil microbial activity, substrates used and diversity declined with declining plant diversity. Their activity, number of substrates used and diversity were significantly higher in plots with 3 and 4 plant species than in monocultures and in plots with 2 species. There was also an effect of plant species composition. Culturable soil microbial activity and diversity was higher in the four-species plant community than in any of the plant monocultures suggesting that the effect of plant diversity could not be explained by the presence of a particular plant species. Our results showed that changes in plant diversity and composition in grassland ecosystems lead to a rapid response of bacterial activity and diversity.