接种蚯蚓对加入不同植物残体土壤微生物特性的影响

通过室内试验,研究不同类型土壤和植物残体施用下接种蚯蚓对土壤微生物群落组成及活性的影响,为将蚯蚓引入农田及水土流失区提供理论依据。供试土壤为黏粒含量较低的灰潮土和黏粒含量较高的典型红壤,供试植物残体为高碳氮比的玉米秸秆和低碳氮比的三叶草,供试蚯蚓为体型较大的威廉腔环蚓(Metaphire guillelmi)。结果表明:接种蚯蚓对微生物量碳(MBC)无显著影响;不同土壤无论是否施用植物残体,接种蚯蚓均使土壤基础呼吸(BR)显著增大,尤其是不施用植物残体时;两种土壤中不施用植物残体和施用三叶草时,接种蚯蚓均使代谢熵(qCO2)增大,而施用玉米秸秆接种蚯蚓使qCO2有下降趋势。Biolog孔平均颜色变化(AWCD)在接种蚯蚓时均增大,基质利用丰富度(S)和多样性指数(H)也增大,且未施用秸秆时的变化较为明显;主成分分析(PCA)表明接种蚯蚓后土壤微生物群落组成与结构发生了明显变化。土壤微生物群落特性变化受蚯蚓、土壤及植物残体间交互作用的影响。     

蚯蚓对赤红壤草被恢复影响的试验研究

生态修复是南方红壤丘陵区土地退化治理的有效手段之一,但现有研究较少关注土壤动物在生态修复过程中的作用。以退化的赤红壤为研究对象,基于盆栽试验,采用全因子设计方法模拟多种生态系统(裸土vs.黑麦草)×蚯蚓(不接种vs.接种蚯蚓)×水分(湿润vs.干旱),以揭示蚯蚓对干旱条件下退化土壤植被修复前后土壤理化性质和植被生产力的调控作用。结果表明：蚯蚓显著提高了湿润和干旱条件下黑麦草生物量。蚯蚓对土壤有机碳影响不显著,蚯蚓活动提高了裸土生态系统土壤总氮、硝态氮、铵态氮含量,以及黑麦草生态系统土壤速效磷含量。干旱胁迫降低黑麦草生物量,对土壤有机碳影响不显著,但显著改善蚯蚓存在土壤的pH值。黑麦草生物量与土壤总磷、硝态氮、铵态氮和速效磷显著正相关。偏最小二乘路径分析表明蚯蚓活动显著提高土壤全量和速效养分含量,湿润条件下速效养分对植被生物量具有显著正效应,干旱条件下其作用不显著。综上,蚯蚓活动改善土壤肥力状况,促进植被生长,蚯蚓活动可缓解干旱对植被生长的不利影响。研究结果对深入认识蚯蚓对生态系统作用具有重要意义,为退化土地生态修复管理提供科学依据。     

Microbial biomass in agricultural topsoils after 6 years of bare fallow

Inherent soil properties have an influence on microbial activity. These effects were measured in a field trial at Weihenstephan with 30 agricultural and 2 vineyard soils from different sites in Bavaria which had been kept under bare fallow for 6 years. The soils represented a wide range of arable soils from a temperate climate. Unaffected by recent differences in climatic conditions or cropping managements, they were used to assess the relationship between microbial biomass C and a broad spectrum of soil physical and chemical properties (clay content 5–63%, pH 4.5–7.5, organic C 0.55–2.93%). Microbial C was measured using the substrate-induced respiration method. In addition, soil catalase activity and the abundance and biomass of earthworms were determined. Among the soil properties, microbial C was most strongly correlated with organic C (r=0.86, n=29). In a comparison of linear regressions between microbial biomass C and organic C for different cropping managements, the slope under bare fallow was lowest, followed by monoculture and crop rotation. The microbial: organic C ratio ranged from 1.1 to 4.3% and was significantly correlated with soil pH (r=0.66). A positive relationship between microbial C and the clay content (r=0.66) was significantly improved when soils with more than 25% clay were excluded (r=0.80). Partial correlation analysis indicated that clay had a direct influence, hardly affected by an intercorrelation with organic C. Catalase activity was highly correlated with microbial C (r=0.95) and, because a rapid and sensitive method of determination is available, was considered suitable for estimating relative amounts of active microbial biomass. A positive relationship between microbial C and the abundance of earthworms indicated interactions between microorganisms and mesofauna.     

Effect of Nostoc (Cyanobacteria) inoculation on the structure and stability of clay soils

The effect of Nostoc spp. (Cyanobacteria) inoculation on soil structure was studied in two clay soils (Calanco and Biancana) originating by erosion processes from Pliocenic marine sediments of central Tuscany (Italy). Two axenic Nostoc strains, AfS49 and KaS35, selected for their soil colonization and exopolysaccharide (EPS) production capacities, were inoculated in Petri dishes on the two clay soils sterilized by autoclaving. The soils, inoculated with an amount of cyanobacterial biomass corresponding to 1.0 g dry wt. m^-2, were incubated under continuous light at 27°C for 3 months and periodically wetted using a pipette. The two strains showed different growth rates and EPS production on both soils: KaS35 produced more biomass, while AfS49 produced more EPS. This different behavior was also documented by scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations. The effect of cyanobacterial inoculation on soil structure resulted in the protection of soil porosity by reducing the damaging effect of water addition. Indeed, the incidence of transmission pores in the inoculated soils (about 30%) was higher with respect to the control soils (about 5%). Data also showed the beginning of a primary aggregation as a consequence of interaction between the secreted EPS and the morphological units of the fine soil fraction. However, no significant differences in water soil structure stability were measured between inoculated and non-inoculated soils. In this paper the interactions between the EPS produced by the two strains and the clay aggregates are discussed in order to understand the role of cyanobacterial inoculation in maintaining soil structure.Dedicated to Professor J. C. G. Ottow on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

The impacts of individual plant species on rhizosphere microbial communities in soils of different fertility

To investigate the effects of individual plant species on microbial community properties in soils of differing fertility, a microcosm experiment was carried out using plant species representative of the dominant flora in semi-fertile temperate grasslands of northern England. Soil microbial biomass and activity were found to be significantly greater in the more fertile, agriculturally improved soil than in the less productive unimproved meadow soil. Differences in microbial community structure were also evident between the two soils, with fungal abundance being greater in the unimproved soil type. Individual plant species effects significantly differed between the two soils. Holcus lanatus and Anthoxanthum odoratum stimulated microbial biomass in the improved soil type, but negatively affected this measure in the unimproved soil. In both soil types, herb species generally had negative effects on microbial biomass. Patterns for microbial activity were less consistent, but as with microbial biomass, A. odoratum and H. lanatus promoted respiration, whereas the herbs negatively affected this measure. All plant species grown in the improved soil increased the abundance of fatty acids synthesised by bacteria (bacterial phospholipid fatty acid analysis) relative to bare soil, but they negatively impacted on this group of fatty acids in unimproved soil. Similarly, the abundance of the fungal fatty acid 18:26 was increased by all plants in the more fertile improved soil only, albeit non-significantly. Our data indicate that effects of plant species on microbial properties differ markedly in soils of differing fertility, making general predictions about how individual plants impact on soil properties difficult to make.     

Fluorine contamination of soils and earthworms (Lumbricus spp.) near a site of long-term industrial emission in southern Germany

Summary The F contamination of soils and Lumbricus spp. around a site of long-term industrial emission in southern Germany was examined. Among total, water extractable, and HCl-soluble fractions, the latter most appropriately characterized anthropogenic F accumulation. Based on the HCl-soluble fractions from 88 sampling sites, a contamination map consisting of three zones was established. F accumulation in the calcareous soils of the area was restricted to the top 40–50 cm and can be explained by precipitation as CaF₂. Earthworms (Lumbricus spp.) collected from the different zones reflected the F contamination well in the significant correlations found between total F in earthworms with and without gut and the corresponding soils. The bioaccumulation of F in earthworms is obvious, and may become hazardous for the earthworms themselves and for other animals feeding on contaminated soil and/or its fauna. A significantly higher F value was recorded in the linings of earthworm tubes than in the corresponding soil. F translocation by earthworm burrowing may be a mechanism of subsoil contamination.     

Tillage effects on compaction, earthworms and other soil quality indicators in Hungary

The philosophy toward tillage throughout the last century in Hungary can be characterized as a fight against extreme climatic and economic situations. The ‘Hungarian reasonable tillage’ approach that was promoted by Cserháti at the end of the 1800s was aimed at reducing tillage without increasing the risk of crop failure in arable fields. Recently, new tillage trends and systems have been introduced because of the rise in energy prices and because of the need to cut production costs, conserve soil and water resources and protect the environment. In Hungarian relation, the rationalized plowing, loosening and mulching systems are counted to the new tillage solutions. There are new steps in the sowing methods too, such as seedbed preparation and plant in one pass, till and plant, mulch-till and plant and direct drilling, which are environment capable, throughout improving soil condition and avoiding the environment harms. The applicability of various soil conservation tillage methods is currently being tested in research projects and discussed in workshops throughout the country. In this paper, soil quality problems such as compaction, trends in soil tillage, and factors affecting soil quality or condition as well as improvement and maintenance are summarized. The data show that annual disking and plowing causes subsoil compaction at the depth of tillage within 3 years and that the compacted layer expanded both in surface and deeper layers after the 5th year. Soil quality deterioration by tillage-pans was improved by subsoiling and maintained by direct drilling and planting soil-loosening catch crops. Within a loam and a sandy loam soil there were close correlations between earthworm activity and soil quality. Earthworm numbers increased on undisturbed but noncompacted soils and soils that included stubble residues remaining on the surface, but did not increase on soils that were deteriorated by tillage-pans or left bare by the absence of mulch. Our goal for the new millennium, is to use only enough tillage to create and maintain harmony between soil conservation, soil quality and crop production.     

Earthworm biomass response to soil management in semi-arid tropical Alfisol agroecosystems

Earthworms recorded during 1989–1993 across 15 soil management treatments, comprising three different tillagexthree organic amendments (bare, farmyard manure, and rice straw) and six perennial ley treatments, belonged to two endogeic species, Octochaetona phillotti (Michaelsen) and Lampito mauritii Kinberg, while in a nearby undisturbed natural revegetation area three species were found, including the above two and Octonochaeta rosea (Stephenson). The earthworm biomass showed significant temporal and spatial variations and was higher during the post monsoon period than in the early rainy season. No worm biomass was recorded during the dry season. In the tillage and organic amendment treatments, the biomass was drastically reduced from September 1989 to September 1991 after the application of carbofuran and some herbicides, and was significantly reduced during these two years compared to that of 1992. The maximum monthly earthworm biomass ranged between 2.5 and 17.9 g m^-2 across the treatments and increased several-fold in the nearby natural revegetation area (75.9 g m^-2). It significantly increased in perennial ley treatments compared to annual treatments with organic amendments. Thus the earthworm biomass varied significantly (P<0.01) across the 15 treatments, indicating discernible effects of soil management.Visiting Scientist (under the Rockefeller Foundation Environmental Research Fellowship in International Agriculture)     

Earthworm populations and growth rates related to long-term crop residue and tillage management

Conventional tillage creates soil physical conditions that may restrict earthworm movement and accelerate crop residue decomposition, thus reducing the food supply for earthworms. These negative impacts may be alleviated by retaining crop residues in agroecosystems. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of various tillage and crop residue management practices on earthworm populations in the field and earthworm growth under controlled conditions. Population assessments were conducted at two long-term (15+ years) experimental sites in Québec, Canada with three tillage systems: moldboard plow/disk harrow (CT), chisel plow or disk harrow (RT) and no tillage (NT), as well as two levels of crop residue inputs (high and low). Earthworm growth was assessed in intact soil cores from both sites. In the field, earthworm populations and biomass were greater with long-term NT than CT and RT practices, but not affected by crop residue management. Laboratory growth rates of Aporrectodea turgida (Eisen) in intact soil cores were affected by tillage and residue inputs, and were positively correlated with the soil organic C pool, suggesting that tillage and residue management practices that increase the soil organic C pool provide more organic substrates for earthworm growth. The highest earthworm growth rates were in soils from RT plots with high residue input, which differed from the response of earthworm populations to tillage and residue management treatments in the field. Our results suggest that tillage-induced disturbance probably has a greater impact than food availability on earthworm populations in cool, humid agroecosystems.     

Earthworm composition,diversity and biomass under three land use systems in south-eastern Australia

In south-eastern Australia, strips of planted native trees and shrubs (shelterbelts) are frequently established to restore ecosystem services altered by agriculture. Despite their wide use, little is known about the effects of establishing shelterbelts on soil macro invertebrates, especially earthworms, which are of major importance in soil processes. We assessed earthworm composition, diversity and biomass in three land use systems: native shelterbelts dominated by Acacia and Eucalyptus species, agricultural pastures and native remnant woodland fragments dominated by Eucalyptus blakelyi and/or Eucalyptus melliodora. Earthworm communities differed significantly among systems, with abundance, biomass and diversity greatest under pasture. Within shelterbelts we saw a shift from high earthworm biomass and density to low with increasing time after establishment. Soil edaphic variables did not correlate strongly with earthworm biomass or density, but were correlated with earthworm community composition. Overall the introduction of native woody vegetation was associated with a decline in density and biomass of earthworms, including a decrease in the relative abundance of exotic species. As such shelterbelts can be used to promote native earthworm relative abundance, which may be important for local diversity, soil function and landscape connectivity.     

Effects of plant species on microbial biomass phosphorus and phosphatase activity in a range of grassland soils

Soil P transformations are primarily mediated by plant root and soil microbial activity. A short-term (40 weeks) glasshouse experiment with 15 grassland soils collected from around New Zealand was conducted to examine the impacts of ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and radiata pine (Pinus radiata) on soil microbial properties and microbiological processes involved in P dynamics. Results showed that the effect of plant species on soil microbial parameters varied greatly with soil type. Concentrations of microbial biomass C and soil respiration were significantly greater in six out of 15 soils under radiata pine compared with ryegrass, while there were no significant effects of plant species on these parameters in the remaining soils. However, microbial biomass P (MBP) was significantly lower in six soils under radiata pine, while there were no significant effects of plant species on MBP in the remaining soils. The latter indicated that P was released from the microbial biomass in response to greater P demand by radiata pine. Levels of water soluble organic C were significantly greater in most soils under radiata pine, compared with ryegrass, which suggested that greater root exudation might have occurred under radiata pine. Activities of acid and alkaline phosphatase and phosphodiesterase were generally lower in most soils under radiata pine, compared with ryegrass. The findings of this study indicate that root exudation plays an important role in increased soil microbial activities, solubility of organic P and mineralization of organic P in soils under radiata pine.     

Changes in active microbial biomass by earthworms and grass amendments in agricultural soil

The influence of the earthworm Aporrectodea caliginosa on the biomass and the proportion of active and dormant soil microorganisms after the addition of cut perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) to upper soil from agricultural field was studied in a microcosm experiment. During a 2-month period, soil samples were taken 1, 8, 22, 36, 50, and 64 days after cut grass addition. A substrate-induced respiration (SIR) method was used to analyse the samples for total microbial biomass and the distribution of active and dormant microbial biomass. It was found that the addition of grass increased the microbial biomass (SIR) because of an increase in the active microbial biomass. After the initially high values, the active microbial biomass decreased slowly, and at day 64, it was still higher in the grass-amended soils than in the control treatment without grass addition. After 1 day, the active microbial biomass was higher in the soil with A. caliginosa than without the earthworm. At the subsequent samplings, there were no differences in microbial biomass or the proportion of dormant vs active microorganisms between the grass-amended soils. The average from all sampling occasions of SIR was higher in earthworm-treated soil.     

Responses of Saline Soil Properties and Cotton Growth to Different Organic Amendments

Application of organic waste to saline alkaline soils is considered to be a good practice for soil remediation. The effects of applying different organic amendments (e.g., cattle dung, vermicompost, biofertilizer) and earthworm inoculations (Eisenia fetida) on saline soils and cotton growth were investigated during 1 year of cotton cultivation. Compared to the control (applied with inorganic NPK fertilizer), applying organic amendments improved soil physicochemical properties. Biofertilizer application improved available nutrient content, reduced short-term soil electrical conductivity, and produced the highest cotton yield, whereas cattle dung and vermicompost applications resulted in higher soil organic matter content. Application of organic amendments significantly increased soil microbial biomass carbon during the flowering period, which sharply declined at harvest. This was especially true for the biofertilizer treatment, which also exhibited lower nematode abundance compared with the other organic materials. Earthworm inoculation following cattle dung application failed to significantly change soil physicochemical properties when compared to the treatments without earthworm inoculation. Results suggest that biofertilizer application to saline soil would improve soil nutrient status in the short-term, whereas cattle dung application would improve soil organic matter content and increase soil organism abundance to a greater extent. However, different strategies might be required for long-term saline soil remediation.     

The combined effects of earthworms and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on microbial biomass and enzyme activities in a calcareous soil spiked with cadmium

Earthworms and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are known to independently affect soil microbial and biochemical properties, in particular soil microbial biomass (SMB) and enzymes. However, less information is available about their interactive effects, particularly in soils contaminated with heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd). The amount of soil microbial biomass C (MBC), the rate of soil respiration (SRR) and the activities of urease and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were measured in a calcareous soil artificially spiked with Cd (10 and 20 mg Cd kg⁻¹), inoculated with earthworm (Lumbricus rubellus L.), and AMF (Glomus intraradices and Glomus mosseae species) under maize (Zea mays L.) crop for 60 days. Results showed that the quantity of MBC, SRR and enzyme activities decreased with increasing Cd levels as a result of the elevated exchangeable Cd concentration. Earthworm addition increased soil exchangeable Cd levels, while AMF and their interaction with earthworms had no influence on this fraction of Cd. Earthworm activity resulted in no change in soil MBC, while inoculation with both AMF species significantly enhanced soil MBC contents. However, the presence of earthworms lowered soil MBC when inoculated with G. mosseae fungi, showing an interaction between the two organisms. Soil enzyme activities and SRR values tended to increase considerably with the inoculation of both earthworms and AMF. Nevertheless, earthworm activity did not affect ALP activity when inoculated with G. mosseae fungi, while the presence of earthworm enhanced urease activity only with G. intraradices species. The increases in enzyme activities and SRR were better ascribed to changes in soil organic carbon (OC), MBC and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) contents. In summary, results demonstrated that the influence of earthworms alone on Cd availability is more important than that of AMF in Cd-polluted soils; and that the interaction effects between these organisms on soil microorganism are much more important than on Cd availability. Thus, the presence of both earthworms and AMF could alleviate Cd effects on soil microbial life.     

A simple and effective method for linking field investigations of earthworms and water infiltration rate into soil at pedon‐scale

Earthworm density and activity may significantly contribute, amongst others, to soil physical properties such as water infiltration rate and permeability, and thus provide a desirable ecosystem service. In environmental field studies, investigations of the two soil physical properties are highly recommended. In practice, they are carried out separately in terms of time and space and, therefore, are typically closely connected. Therefore, the aim of this study was to test the feasibility of a combined investigation of earthworm population and infiltration rate in soil in field studies. The idea was to use an aqueous solution of allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) and a double‐ring cylinder for simultaneous measurements at the same pedon and, thus, without any spatio‐temporal deviation. Tap water was used as a control for the infiltration measurements with AITC. Another aim was to evaluate the plausibility of earthworm data received from those combined investigations. This was tested for some arable and grassland soils derived from various parent materials in W‐Germany differing in soil chemical and physical properties. Infiltration rates of AITC in soil were not significant different from tap water, neither for the different soils nor different land‐uses and at the different study sites. Earthworm population data revealed from AITC application with a double‐ring cylinder equipment were realistic and in line with previous investigations in the respected study area. Pearson correlation coefficient between earthworm biomass and infiltration rate of AITC was medium (R² = 0.363).     

Effects of traditional and biodynamic farmyard manure amendment on yields,soil chemical,biochemical and biological properties in a long-term field experiment

We studied the effects of applications of traditionally composted farmyard manure (FYM) and two types of biodynamically composted FYM over 9 years on soil chemical properties, microbial biomass and respiration, dehydrogenase and saccharase activities, decomposition rates and root production under grass-clover, activity and biomass of earthworms under wheat, and yields in a grass-clover, potatoes, winter wheat, field beans, spring wheat, winter rye crop rotation. The experiment was conducted near Bonn, on a Fluvisol using a randomised complete block design (n=6). Our results showed that plots which received either prepared or non-prepared FYM (30 Mg ha^–1 year^–1) had significantly increased soil pH, P and K concentrations, microbial biomass, dehydrogenase activity, decomposition (cotton strips), earthworm cast production and altered earthworm community composition than plots without FYM application. Application of FYM did not affect the soil C/N ratio, root length density, saccharase activity, microbial basal respiration, metabolic quotient and crop yields. The biodynamic preparation of FYM with fermented residues of six plant species (6 g Mg^–1 FYM) significantly decreased soil microbial basal respiration and metabolic quotient compared to non-prepared FYM or FYM prepared with only Achillea. The biodynamic preparation did not affect soil microbial biomass, dehydrogenase activity and decomposition during 62 days. However, after 100 days, decomposition was significantly faster in plots which received completely prepared FYM than in plots which received no FYM, FYM without preparations or FYM with the Achillea preparation. Furthermore, the application of completely prepared FYM led to significantly higher biomass and abundance of endogeic or anecic earthworms than in plots where non-prepared FYM was applied.     

Changes in amino acid enantiomers and microbial performance in soils from a subtropical mountain oasis in Oman abandoned for different periods

An important feature of maintaining the agricultural stability in millennia-old mountain oases of northern Oman is the temporary abandonment of terraces. To analyse the effects of a fallow period on soil microbial performance, i.e. microbial activity and microbial biomass, samples of eight terrace soils abandoned for different periods were collected in situ, assigned to four fallow age classes and incubated for 30 days in the laboratory after rewetting. The younger fallow age classes of 1 and 5 years were based on the records of the farmers recollections, the two older fallow age classes of 10–20 and 25–60 years according to the increase in the d -to- l ratio of valine and leucine enantiomers. The increase in these two ratios was in agreement with that of the d -to- l ratio of lysine. The strongest relationship was observed between the increase in the d -to- l ratio of lysine and the decrease in soil microbial biomass C. However, the most stringent coherence between the increase in fallow age and soil properties was revealed by the decreases in cumulative respiration and net N mineralisation rates with decreasing availability of substrate to soil microorganisms. During the 30-day incubation following rewetting, relative changes in microbial activity (respiration and net N mineralisation) and microbial biomass (C and N) indices were similar in the eight terrace soils on a fallow age-class-specific level, indicating that the same basic processes occurred in all of the sandy terrace soils investigated.     

Earthworm populations under tropical maize cultivation: the effect of mulching with velvetbean

Earthworm populations were studied in three tropical agroecosystems of southern Mexico: improved maize with a Mucuna pruriens cover crop (MM), continuous conventional maize (CM) and pastures (P). Three replicates and six monoliths were sampled in each agroecosystem. Three earthworm species were found, two native (Balanteodrilus pearsei, Larsonidrilus orbiculatus) and one exotic (Polypheretima elongata). In all systems, the dominant species was B. pearsei, with negligible presence of the exotic species in MM and P plots. Total abundance was significantly higher in MM than in CM; and earthworm biomass was also higher in MM than in CM and P. Juveniles of both native species dominated, mainly concentrated in the top 20 cm of soil. B. pearsei and L. orbiculatus displayed different preferences (within each agroecosystem) for soil organic matter, N and temperature. Further experiments are required to investigate whether mulching with M. pruriens results in an increased earthworm abundance and biomass through a N-improvement effect or as a result of microclimatic changes and to study the extent to which earthworms and M. pruriens are synergistic in enhancing maize growth.     

Soil fauna feeding activity in temperate grassland soils increases with legume and grass species richness

Edaphic fauna contributes to important ecosystem functions in grassland soils such as decomposition and nutrient mineralization. Since this functional role is likely to be altered by global change and associated shifts in plant communities, a thorough understanding of large scale drivers on below-ground processes independent of regional differences in soil type or climate is essential. We investigated the relationship between abiotic (soil properties, management practices) and biotic (plant functional group composition, vegetation characteristics, soil fauna abundance) predictors and feeding activity of soil fauna after accounting for sample year and study region. Our study was carried out over a period of two consecutive years in 92 agricultural grasslands in three regions of Germany, spanning a latitudinal gradient of more than 500 km. A structural equation model suggests that feeding activity of soil fauna as measured by the bait-lamina test was positively related to legume and grass species richness in both years. Most probably, a diverse vegetation promotes feeding activity of soil fauna via alterations of both microclimate and resource availability. Feeding activity of soil fauna also increased with earthworm biomass via a pathway over Collembola abundance. The effect of earthworms on the feeding activity in soil may be attributed to their important role as ecosystem engineers. As no additional effects of agricultural management such as fertilization, livestock density or number of cuts on bait consumption were observed, our results suggest that the positive effect of legume and grass species richness on the feeding activity in soil fauna is a general one that will not be overruled by regional differences in management or environmental conditions. We thus suggest that agri-environment schemes aiming at the protection of belowground activity and associated ecosystem functions in temperate grasslands may generally focus on maintaining plant diversity, especially with regard to the potential effects of climate change on future vegetation structure.