Microcosm experiments on the development of different plant parasitic nematode fauna in two soils from the Soudanese-Sahelian zone of West Africa

To test the hypothesis that the structure of plant parasitic nematode communities is affected by soil characteristics, experiments were conducted in a greenhouse with two soils with different physical and chemical characteristics and land management histories (fallow and a cultivated field) from adjacent plots. The cultivated soil was more sandy and had lower organic matter and nutrient contents than the fallow soil. Four nematode assemblages of Scutellonema cavenessi, Helicotylenchus dihystera and Tylenchorhynchus gladiolatus were inoculated in the soils. The pot experiment was conducted on millet during 2 months. Multiplication rates of H. dihystera were not significantly different in the two soils. T. gladiolatus had a lower multiplication rate in the fine-textured soil. S. cavenessi seemed to reproduce better in the coarse-textured soil when inoculated in low density with H. dihystera. The presence of plant parasitic nematodes in the cultivated soil caused a significant decrease of millet biomass, whereas plants in the fallow soil were less sensitive to nematode damage and were only affected when the soil was inoculated with T. gladiolatus alone. This experiment did not explain the distribution of plant parasitic species observed in the field. However, parameters other than the presence of a favourable host plant and micro-climatic conditions were found to induce differences in the reproductive rates of several species of plant parasitic nematodes. Received: 14 January 1996     

Effect of fallow improvement on the nematode community in the Sudanian region of Senegal

A 4-year trial was conducted in the Sudanian area of Senegal to study how the manipulation of the plant composition of a natural fallow might increase soil fertility. The influence of fencing combined with stump removal or planting of Andropogon gayanus on the nematode communities was studied. Apart from fencing, all intervention favoured the multiplication of the plant parasitic nematodes for the duration of the trial. Fencing significantly reduced nematode abundance and modified the balance between the species in the community. The population of Scutellonema cavenessi, a serious pest of food crops in the region, was dramatically reduced to the benefit of the weaker pathogen, Helicotylenchus dihystera. Planting Andropogon increased the H. dihystera population slightly. Disappearance of ligneous plant material by stump removal was associated with the greatest increase in the proportion of S. cavenessi. The results suggested that the soil disturbance when planting, removing stumps, or even grazing could affect the nematode community in the topsoil layer, resulting in a decrease in H. dihystera. This species did not recover during a 4-year fallow, even if a suitable situation was promoted through fencing or the planting of Andropogon, a host plant of H. dihystera.     

栽培对黑土线虫营养群体的空间分布的影响

Geostatistics combined with GIS was applied to assess the spatial distribution of nematode trophic groups following two contrasting soil uses in the black soil region of Northeast China.Two plots,one with fallow for 12 years and the other cultivated,were marked on regular square grids with 2-m spacing.Soil samples were collected from each sampling point,nematodes were extracted from these samples and classified into four trophic groups:bacterivores,fungivores,plant parasites,and omnivores/predators.The numbers of total nematodes and trophic groups analyzed had normal distributions on both fallow and cultivated plots.The absolute abundances of total nematodes and trophic groups were observed to be much nore homogeneous on cultivated plot than on fallow one.Geostatistical analysis showed that the densities of total nematodes and trophic groups on both fallow and cultivated plots exhibited spatial dekpendence at the sampled scale and their experimental semivariograms were adjusted to a spherical or exponential model,except those of bacterivores and fungivores oncultivated plot.The spatial distribution of nematode trophic groups was found to be different for the two land uses,indicating that cultivation changed the native condition for soil nematode activities.     

Spatial distribution of the nematode biocontrol agent Pasteuria penetrans as influenced by its soil habitat

Root-knot nematodes belonging to the Meloidogyne genus are ubiquitous plant-parasitic pests, especially on vegetables. The Pasteuria penetrans bacterium is an obligate parasite of nematodes, parasitizing most of the Meloidogyne species. Spatial distributions of Meloidogyne javanica populations infested or not by P. penetrans and of bacterial populations were studied in a vegetable plot naturally infested by these organisms. It was observed that distributions of M. javanica populations, of populations infested by P. penetrans, and of free bacteria populations were not overlapped. Soil factors involved were investigated. Soil texture and water flow in porosity are concerned, as they directly influence the level of the pool of bacteria and then the chances of both organisms to meet. The soil solution has a direct effect on the attachment of the bacterium on the nematode cuticle.     

Improved fallow with pigeon pea for soil fertility improvement and to increase maize production in a smallholder crop–livestock farming system in the subhumid zone of Ghana

Pigeon pea is cultivated by most smallholder crop–livestock farmers mainly as a border crop. It is quite often sparsely intercropped in cereal‐based cropping systems in the subhumid zone of Ghana. Management of pigeon pea and its biomass is a promising means of improving many abandoned arable fields but has not been consciously undertaken. The objective of this trial was to explore the use of pigeon pea and the management of its pruned biomass as part of an improved fallow for crop–livestock farming. Three pigeon‐pea management options and a natural fallow (two‐year fallow period) were compared in terms of maize grain yield and changes in soil organic carbon, total nitrogen and cation exchange capacity. Pigeon pea grain yield ranged between 615 and 678 kg ha⁻¹ and 527 and 573 kg ha⁻¹ in the first and second year of fallow, respectively. In the first year after fallow, maize grain yield ranged between 0·43 and 2·39 t ha⁻¹ and was significantly influenced by the fallow system. There was a marked decrease in maize grain on the pigeon pea fallow plots in the second year, ranging between 50 and 38·6 per cent in Kumayili and between 42·6 and 17·6 per cent in Tingoli. After the two‐year fallow period, increase of soil organic carbon on the pigeon pea fallow plot compared with the natural fallow plot was 30·5 per cent, and there was an improvement of total nitrogen (48·5 per cent) and CEC (17·8 per cent). Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Changes in soil fertility and Striga hermonthica prevalence associated with legume and cereal cultivation in the Sudan savannah zone of Ghana

In the Sudano–Sahelian zones of West Africa, cultivated land is degraded due to reduced fallow periods and Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth. infestation, and poses a serious threat to sustainable food production. To provide options for addressing these problems, we investigated the possibility of replacing the short fallow periods with food legume cultivation. We tested this in two farming communities within the Sudan savannah zone of Ghana. In the 1997 and 1998 cropping seasons, selected farmers within each community planted soybean [Glycine max. (L.) Merr.] or bambara groundnuts [Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.] on continuously cropped, Striga‐infested farmlands, whereas lands that were maintained under two or three years of bush fallowing were planted to millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] or sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]. Analysis of soil sampled from 0–15 cm (plough layer) revealed that contents of major plant nutrients were inadequate to support long‐term crop production. Within each farming community, total nitrogen content at initial sampling showed significant negative correlation with the number of Striga seeds in the plough layer. Under legume cultivation, soil organic carbon content increased and the number of Striga seeds per square metre decreased in both communities from a mean value of 28 183 seeds m⁻² to 8185 seeds m⁻². Under cereal cultivation Striga seed density increased from 9383 seeds m⁻² to 16 696 seeds m⁻². The study provides evidence that introduction of food legume cultivation on farmlands with high S. hermonthica infestation as an alternative to bush fallow system could help achieve sustainable crop production in the Sudan savannah zones of sub‐Saharan Africa. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Population dynamics of amoebae in soils suppressive and non-suppressive to wheat take-all

Populations of soil amoebae were estimated throughout two wheat crops and a fallow from wheat rotations suppressive and non-suppressive to take-all. The suppressive pasture-pasture-wheat plot showed higher rhizosphere populations of mycophagous amoebae and higher associations of mycophagous and other amoebae with wheat roots throughout the crop period than the non-suppressive continuous-wheat plot. Populations of mycophagous amoebae were positively and significantly (P = 0.05) correlated with populations of the take-all fungus in both soils, and with soil moisture in the non-suppressive soil. The possible role of mycophagous amoebae in the wheat rhizosphere in suppressive soil is discussed.     

Relationships between abiotic and biotic soil properties during fallow periods in the sudanian zone of Senegal

Relationships between soil characteristics, various forms of soil organic matter, microbial biomass and the structure of phytoparasitic nematode populations were investigated in six fallow fields aged from 1 to 26 years in the West African Savanna (WAS) belt in southern Senegal. Soil sampling was performed along two transects in each field. Herbaceous biomass and soil physical, chemical and biological characteristics were studied with principal component analysis (PCA) and the relationships between the parameters were extracted with co-inertia analysis.Soil properties (mainly calcium, magnesium and total carbon contents, and cation exchange capacity) slightly improved in the upper soil layer (0–5 cm) during the succession of vegetation. In constrast, in the 0–10 cm soil layer, microbial biomass and total soil organic carbon content showed no clear pattern of change over time, while highest charcoal stocks were found in older fallows where bush fires are frequent. In the 0–40 cm layer, living root biomass increased and herbaceous biomass decreased through the chronosequence. Evidence is presented here for particular relationships between some of the carbon components and the structure of the nematode community. Pratylenchus and Ditylenchus species were associated with the grass vegetation of the youngest fallows. In contrast Helicotylenchus and Scutellonema were present in old fallows. The multiplication of the latter appeared closely related to the presence of woody fine roots, whereas, that of the former seemed to be favoured by the presence of the coarsest roots of trees.Xiphinema had a higher density in soils with higher bulk density. Microbial biomass was not affected by fallow duration and was not correlated with the abundance of non-phytoparasitic nematodes. These results suggested that the management of crop pests such as nematodes in the soils of the WAS could be exerted through stump protection and tree plantation (improved fallow, agroforestry) during the crop-fallow cycle.     

Quantification of the effects of rotation breaks on soil biological properties and their impact on yield decline in sugarcane

Three contrasting rotation breaks (sown pasture, alternate crops and bare fallow) were established at five sites in Queensland, Australia, on land that had been under sugarcane monoculture for at least 20 years. The breaks were in place for 30-42 months at four sites and for 12 months at the fifth site. The effects of the breaks on selected soil biological properties were assessed following the removal of the breaks and before the area was re-planted with sugarcane. At the four sites with the long-term breaks, microbial biomass increased under the pasture break, declined under the bare fallow break and did not change significantly under the crop break, compared to microbial biomass under continual sugarcane. At these sites, populations of the root lesion nematode (Pratylenchus zeae) declined under all three breaks whereas populations of free-living nematodes increased under the pasture and crop breaks but declined under the bare fallow break. At the site with the 12 month breaks, a forage legume pasture increased microbial biomass, reduced lesion nematodes and together with the crop break increased populations of free-living nematodes. At the four sites with the long-term breaks there was an increase in the ratio of fungal:bacterial fatty acids and an increase in fatty acid 16:1ω5c (used as a biomarker for mycorrhizal fungi) under the pasture and crop breaks. Also at these sites, the soil microbial community under the pasture, crop and bare fallow breaks, respectively, showed increased, no change or diminished capacity to utilize carbon substrates compared to the soil microbial community under continual sugarcane. The yield of the sugarcane crop following all three breaks was significantly higher than the yield of the crop following continual sugarcane at each of the sites with the long-term breaks. Examination of the longevity of the effect of the rotation breaks on soil biological properties at the sites with the long-term breaks, suggested that effects on some soil organisms (e.g. lesion nematodes) maybe short-lived.     

Microbial dynamics and natural remediation patterns of Fusarium‐infested watermelon soil under 3‐yr of continuous fallow condition

Long‐term monoculture of watermelon results in inhibited growth and decreased crop yields, possibly because of imbalance in microbial ecology caused by accumulation of the pathogen in soil. This results in serious problems in the economics of watermelon production. We investigated the build‐up of Fusarium in soil under watermelon cultivation and changes over 3 yr of fallow in a microcosm. We focused on changes in the microbial community of Fusarium‐infected soil, including the diversity of the microfloral species composition, and species abundance. Long‐term monoculture of watermelon leads to changes in microbial diversity and community structure. The microbes most readily cultured from infested soil were suppressed by watermelon wilt pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum (FON). Of 52 isolated and identified culturable microbes, 83.3% of bacteria, 85.7% of actinomycetes, 31.6% of fungi and 20.0% of Fusarium sp. were inhibited by FON on bioassay plates. Prior to fallowing, infested soil was a transformed ‘fungus‐type’ soil. After 3 yr of fallow, the infested soil had remediated naturally, and soil microbial diversity recovered considerably. Abundance of dominant bacterial populations was increased by 118–177%, actinomycetes, fungi and FON were decreased by 23–32, 33–37 and 50%, respectively. The ratio of bacteria: actnomycetes: fungus: Fusarium sp. in infested soil changed from 24 000:100:4:1 prior to fallow to 57 000:100:3.5:1 after fallowing, nearer to the 560 000:400:8:1 ratio of healthy soil not used for watermelon cultivation. This suggests the ‘fungus‐type’ soil was converting to ‘bacteria‐type’ soil and that disrupted microbial communities in infested soil were restored during fallow.     

Charcoal consumption and casting activity by Pontoscolex corethrurus (Glossoscolecidae)

The endogeic earthworm Pontoscolex corethrurus (Glossoscolecidae) is a peregrine species commonly found in tropical lands cleared by man for cultivation. We compared the charcoal consumption and casting activity of a population of P. corethrurus from a cultivated area under repeated slash-and-burn (fallow population) with that of a population from a field cultivated after recent burning of a mature forest (forest population). Their cast production was measured in containers in the presence of pure charcoal, soil of fallow and forest origin, or a mixture of charcoal and soil. The forest population defecated less in pure charcoal than in forest soil, whereas the reverse was observed for the fallow population. When living in fallow soil, both populations defecated more at the surface of a mixture of charcoal and soil than at the surface of pure soil (×2 and ×3 with fallow and forest populations, respectively). In forest soil, both populations showed an increased charcoal consumption (×12). In the light of these experiments, we hypothesized that an adaptation of P. corethrurus to charcoal and fallow soil exists, supporting the observed distribution of this earthworm species in tropical open lands.     

水稻-番茄轮作植物寄生线虫及微生物群落结构差异

土壤线虫和微生物群落结构与作物健康密切相关。采用田间试验，利用传统分类和高通量测序技术，研究了水稻–番茄轮作(FS)、番茄连作(FF)和休耕(CK)3种种植制度土壤线虫及微生物群落结构差异。结果表明，水旱轮作土壤中线虫种类少，自由生活线虫占比高。土壤中植物寄生线虫属的检出率，轮作最少，仅有5个，连作最多，共13个，且大部分为常见属；水旱轮作同时能降低土壤中植物寄生线虫的种类，包括主要危害番茄的根结线虫属，占比仅2.1%，而连作为29.7%。不同种植制度下真菌和细菌类群OUTs和群落结构差异明显；与连作相比，轮作和休耕真菌、细菌种群丰富度更高，共享占比更多，群落构成更相近；水旱轮作Alpha多样性指数显著高于连作；轮作土壤中植物寄生线虫拮抗微生物类群Chaetomium,Talaromyces,Anaerolineaceae和Acidobacteria相对丰度高于连作。水稻–番茄轮作能大幅减少植物寄生线虫种类，增加微生物群落多样性，改善土壤质量，是番茄生产中防控线虫病害的理想措施。     

Influence of some agroforestry practices on the temporal structures of nematodes in western Kenya

The influence of agroforestry practices on the temporal fluctuation of nematodes was studied in western Kenya. The experiment comprised a fallow phase, which had the following treatments: (1) maize/beans intercropping; (2) maize/beans intercropping with rock phosphate; (3) Crotalaria fallow; (4) Crotalaria fallow with rock phosphate; (5) Crotalaria fallow with rock phosphate (+ Calliandra and napier hedges); and a cultivation phase when all plots were planted to maize and beans. There were strong seasonal fluctuations in the abundance of both free-living and plant-parasitic nematodes. The abundance of plant-parasitic nematodes did not vary among cropping systems during the fallow phase, but varied significantly during the cultivation phase of the experiment. Pratylenchus spp. appeared to be stimulated by the application of phosphorus while Scutellonema spp. had higher populations in the maize crops, which were planted after a Crotalaria fallow. In both the fallow and the cultivation phases, the sampling date had a significant impact on nematode abundance. There were more plant-parasitic nematode species during the fallow phase of the study, but the evenness of the different nematode communities was significantly greater in the cultivation phase of the experiment.     

Relationship between root-endophytic microbial communities and replant disease in specialized apple growing areas in Europe

Apple replant disorders are one of the causes of the downward trend of land planted with apple orchards in Central Europe. A specific transnational survey was thus conducted on apple root associated microorganisms, aimed at increasing the knowledge regarding crop management to counteract this tendency. Soil health was evaluated using a bioassay test with root cuttings of the clonal M9 rootstock, one of the most commonly used rootstocks in Europe. Plant growth response in replant, fallow and gamma ray-sterilized soil was evaluated using soil samples taken from nine orchards selected (three per country) from specialized apple growing areas of Germany, Austria and Italy. Plant growth significantly differed between treatments but not between countries. Root endophytic fungi were confirmed as one of the main components of growth reduction, while endophytic nematodes (Pratylenchus sp.) were not. The large set of quantitative and qualitative data of root endophytic fungi allowed to clarify that Cylindrocarpon-like fungi (Ilyonectria spp. and Thelonectria sp.) had a major pathogenic role in the three countries, while Pythium spp. prevailed as pathogen only in German orchards. Gamma ray-sterilized soil resulted in a more-than-proportional increase of plant growth (42% and 31% respectively vs. replant and fallow) as compared to that observed between fallow and replant soil (18%). This best performance in gamma ray-sterilized soil, in addition to the lowest root colonization by Cylindrocarpon-like fungi in this treatment, appeared to be due to the different composition of fungal communities as compared to two other treatments (fallow and replant soil), which instead were highly similar to each other. This difference was due to a shift of community composition toward Fusarium and binucleate Rhizoctonia, which prevailed in sterilized soil.     

Fungal-feeding habits of six nematode isolates in the genus Filenchus

The family Tylenchidae is a large group of soil nematodes but their feeding habits are not fully known. We studied the fungal-feeding abilities of nematodes in the genus Filenchus. We measured population growth rates (PGRs) of six nematode isolates, representing three Filenchus species, when feeding on seven fungal species on two types of culture media. On Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) Filenchus misellus, Filenchus discrepans and an unidentified Filenchus sp. generally showed moderate to large PGRs on saprophytic fungi (Rhizoctonia solani, Chaetomium globosum, Coprinus cinereus, Flammulina velutipes) and low PGRs on plant-pathogenic fungi (Fusarium oxysporum, Pythium ultimum). In soil medium amended with chopped soybean plant material or wheat bran, the status of most of the fungi as food for the nematodes was similar to that on PDA, although PGRs tended to be lower in the soil medium. However, C. globosum, a good food on PDA, only supported low PGR in soil for each of the three nematodes. The PGRs of F. misellus on C. globosum in soil were still low even when types and amounts of organic matter amendments were varied. A nematophagous fungus, Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushroom), was determined to be a food for Filenchus on PDA or in soil, based on PGR measurements corrected for extraction efficiency. To determine whether fungal species and culture media affected nematode extraction efficiencies and, consequently, the apparent PGRs, we compared efficiencies between R. solani, C. globosum and C. cinereus, and between PDA and soil. The relatively low extraction efficiencies across fungal species in soil seemed responsible for the lower nematode PGRs in soil than on PDA. On PDA generally, fungal species did not affect the assessment. In soil, effects of fungal species on extraction were significant, but not consistent, across nematode species. Nevertheless, the extraction efficiency differences in soil were considered not to affect assessment of the three fungi as food for the nematodes. The confirmation that three Filenchus species reproduce by feeding on fungi in soil suggests that fungal-feeding is not an unusual habit in the field, in this genus. We believe that in community studies, nematodes in the genus Filenchus should be considered fungal feeders or root and fungal feeders, rather than only plant feeders. Our confirmation of fungal-feeding habits in the genus Filenchus supports the hypotheses that plant-feeding nematodes evolved from those feeding on fungi.     

Host-parasite soil communities and environmental constraints: Modelling of soil functions involved in interactions between plant-parasitic nematodes and Pasteuria penetrans

Nematodes belonging to the genus Meloidogyne are the most ubiquitous and widespread plant-parasitic nematodes. They occur worldwide, are polyphagous and can parasitize most cultivated plants leading to reduced crop yields. They are especially harmful in developing countries because of the lack of suitable and feasible management strategies. Among all the control practices (chemicals, physical techniques, cultural practices, resistance), the use of natural enemies as biological control agents is the most recently developed. Pasteuria penetrans which is an obligate Gram-positive, endospore-forming bacterium, is perhaps the most promising plant-parasitic nematode biocontrol agent. Despite much research conducted on prey-predator interactions (host-parasite specificity, mechanisms of attachment, field efficacy), the influence of the soil environment on host-parasite interactions is poorly understood even when the soil appears to be the key factor. Beyond common studies on the influence of climatic conditions on the attachment of endospores of P. penetrans to nematodes, more knowledge about the systemic interactions between plants, soil water dynamics, soil texture and structure, and other biota on the parasitism of nematodes by P. penetrans would improve their utilization as biological control agents. The aim of this review is to analyze the literature dealing with the influence of the soil on nematode - P. penetrans interactions in order to suggest a helpful conceptual model based on partitioning the Pasteuria population in sub-populations according to their soil habitat (dispersible and non-dispersible aggregates, microporosity, macroporosity), not all of them being available for attachment and infection on nematodes. Such concerns should be taken into account by epidemiologists for improving biological management strategies based on the use of this bacterium.     

Soil tillage and cover crop on soil CO2 emissions from sugarcane fields

Soil tillage is an agricultural practice that directly affects the global carbon cycle. Our study sought to assess the implications of adopting sunn hemp cover crops with different tillage practices on CO₂ emissions for two soil types (clayey and sandy soil) cultivated with sugarcane in Brazil. The experimental design was a split‐plot with randomized blocks, with the main plots being with cover crop or fallow and sub‐plots being under conventional or minimum tillage. Our results indicate that during the first 50 days after soil tillage, the variation in soil CO₂ emissions was stimulated by cover crop and soil tillage, while after that, it became dominated by the root respiration of sugarcane plants. We also found that over the first 97 days after the tillage, the clayey soil showed differences between minimum tillage with cover crop and fallow. Conversely, for sandy soil over the first 50 days following, there were differences between the tillage systems under cover cropping. Emissions from sugarcane rows were found to be greater than those from inter‐row positions. We concluded that soils under different textural classes had distinct patterns in terms of soil CO₂ emissions. The correct quantification of CO₂ emissions during the sugarcane renovation period should prioritize having a short assessment period (~50 days after soil tillage) as well as including measurements at row and inter‐row positions.     

Nematode dispersion by runoff water: Case study of Radopholus similis (Cobb) Thorne on nitisol under humid tropical conditions

To minimize application of nematicides in banana fields, crop systems have been developed in the French West Indies that combine fallow or rotation crops and nematode-free in vitro plants. After two to four years, populations of the burrowing nematode Radopholus similis have developed enough to cause economic losses, leading banana growers to use nematicides. To understand how banana fields are recontaminated, we studied the dissemination of R. similis by water flow. At a 1-m scale, we analyzed the dispersion of R. similis under a rainfall simulator: we isolated a 1-m² study plot, placed a R. similis suspension on the upstream soil surface, and simulated a 60 mm/h rainfall for 72 min. We collected soil samples every 10 cm downstream after 12 min of rainfall, and subsequently at 20-min intervals, and extracted the nematodes using a Seinhorst elutriator and then a Baermann funnel. Our results showed that the nematode dissemination follows an inverse exponential law, and depends more on soil moisture at the beginning of rainfall than on the length of rainfall: in fresh soil, 69–80% of the R. similis recovered were found less than 10 cm downstream from the nematode inoculation line, whereas in wetted soil, 76–85% of the recovered individuals were collected in the outlet tub located downstream from the apparatus. This passive dissemination model partially explains the distance covered by individual nematodes but not the low percentage of motile nematodes recovered in the outlet tub (10% and 36% in fresh and wet soils) compared to the percentage of motile nematodes found in the soil (80% and 84% in fresh and wet soils). Indeed, water runoff is likely to disseminate R. similis over long distances only when soil moisture is close to field capacity.     

Long-term effect of a legume cover crop (Mucuna pruriens var. utilis) on the communities of soil macrofauna and nematofauna,under maize cultivation,in southern Benin

In southern Benin like in other tropical areas, natural fallows, which were traditionally used in order to improve soil fertility, are no longer possible in a context of high population pressure. Many studies have underlined the advantages of legume cover crops to ensure the sustainability of plant productivity: increase in soil organic matter content, increase in crop yields, improvement of the water regime of soils, and decrease in runoff and erosion. Nevertheless the mechanisms responsible for these modifications are not completely understood. The characterisation of biological activity and diversity in a soil can help in understanding the dynamics of soil structure and the flux of nutrients. For this purpose, the density, diversity and functional composition of soil nematodes and soil macroinvertebrates were measured in different treatments under maize cultivation. The three treatments were: (1) a pure traditional maize crop without any fertilisation (T); (2) a maize crop with a mineral fertiliser (NPK); and (3) a maize crop inter-cropped with Mucuna pruriens var. utilis (M). Soil in plot M presented different biological properties when compared with T and NPK: higher macrofauna density (especially termites, earthworms, millipedes, centipedes) and biomass (especially earthworms and termites), higher density of facultative phytophagous, bacterial-feeding and predatory nematodes, and lower density of obligatory phytophagous (Criconemella, Scutellonema and Meloidogyne) nematodes. The modification of the composition and activity of soil biota under Mucuna might partly explain the potential of Mucuna for soil restoration.