Biodiversity and abundance of terrestrial isopods along a gradient of disturbance in Sabah,East Malaysia

Connell's intermediate disturbance hypothesis predicts that the highest diversity is maintained at intermediate levels of disturbance. We have examined this hypothesis by observing differences in biodiversity of terrestrial isopods along a gradient of disturbance from two undisturbed primary tropical rainforest sites, to a logged site, a mixed native fruit orchard and a commercial oil palm plantation, in Sabah, East Malaysia. We describe a standardised protocol for the rapid assessment of isopod biodiversity on tropical forest floor sites and for measuring environmental variables to which we have related differences in species richness and relative abundance of the isopods. The results do not support Connell's hypothesis because there were no significant differences in diversity, species richness or equitability between disturbed sites and the nearest primary forests. The relative abundance of individual species was highest in the most disturbed environment. We suggest that this may be because particular species are well adapted to exploiting resources under the more ‘r’ selection conditions created by disturbance. Possible reasons for why the observations do not conform with predictions from the intermediate disturbance hypothesis are discussed. We conclude that Huston's dynamic equilibrium model is more appropriate than the intermediate disturbance hypothesis in predicting the effects of disturbance of tropical rainforests on these arthropod macro-decomposers.     

Disturbance–diversity relationships for soil fauna are explained by faunal community biomass in a salt marsh

Disturbance–diversity relationships have long been studied in ecology with a unimodal relationship as the key prediction. Although this relationship has been widely contested, it is rarely tested for soil invertebrate fauna, an important component of terrestrial biodiversity. We tested disturbance–diversity relationships for soil meso- and macrofauna in a salt marsh where periodic sea water inundation and cattle grazing occur as stressors. We hypothesized a unimodal inundation frequency–diversity relationship, whereas we expected grazing to overrule the effects of inundation frequency due to its large effects on the habitat of soil fauna. We found a negative relationship between inundation frequency and diversity at the ungrazed sites and no relationship at the grazed sites. Moreover, we found a negative relationship between community biomass and diversity for soil fauna that may have caused this negative disturbance–diversity relationship. Community biomass at the intermediate inundation frequency increased due to the dominance of Orchestia gammarellus (a macro-detritivore species), which could exploit low quality litters at the ungrazed sites. We highlight that the negative relationship between faunal community biomass and faunal diversity may influence disturbance–diversity relationships and illustrate that total biomass distribution of feeding guilds of soil fauna can improve our understanding of the soil fauna response to stressors in salt marshes.     

Response of soil micro- and mesofauna to diversity and quality of plant litter

The abundance and functional structure of soil micro- (nematodes) and mesofauna (collembolans and mites) in relation to species diversity and initial C:N ratio of plant litter were studied in a field mesocosm experiment. A total of five litter treatments were applied to generate an increasing diversity of plant species (one, three and 12 species) and/or differences in initial C:N ratio of the litter (low, intermediate and high ratio). Samples were taken 3, 6 and 24 months after the litter exposure. On each sampling date litter and underlying sand samples were taken. Our results showed that litter quality, but not litter diversity was the factor which affected the three animal groups under study. The effect of litter was dependent on the time of litter exposure. Nematode fauna colonized litter earlier than the two mesofaunal groups. Nematodes responded apparently to litter quality gradient at early stages of litter decomposition. Three months after the start of the experiment the highest density of nematodes was noticed in single species litter of Trifolium pratense. Bacterial-feeding nematodes dominated in all litter treatments; on the first sampling date their percent share in Trifolium litter reached even 99.9%. Opposite to nematodes at late stages of litter decomposition the two mesofaunal groups seemed to show some preferences for low quality litter of Festuca rubra. Collembolan and nematode diversity was affected in similar way by the litter quality; the lowest diversity of the animal communities was found in the litter of the lowest initial C:N ratio. Maturity index of nematode communities was found to be a good index to differentiate between litters of different quality. The abundance and community structure of the three animal groups in underlying sandy soil was not significantly influenced by experimental conditions.     

Hay strewing, brush harvesting of seed and soil disturbance as tools for the enhancement of botanical diversity in grasslands

Since the middle of the last century agricultural intensification within Europe has led to a drastic decline in the extent of botanically diverse grasslands. Whilst measures to enhance the diversity of agriculturally-improved grasslands are in place, success has often been limited. One of the primary factors limiting success is the paucity of sources of propagules of desirable species in the surrounding landscape. The restoration of two contrasting grassland types (lowland hay meadow and chalk grassland) was examined using a replicated block experiment to assess the effectiveness of two methods of seed application (hay strewing and brush harvesting) and two methods of pre-treatment disturbance (power harrowing and turf stripping). The resulting changes in botanical composition were monitored for 4 years. Seed addition by both methods resulted in significant temporal trends in plant species composition and increases in plant species richness, which were further enhanced by disturbance. Power harrowing increased the effectiveness of the seed addition treatments at the lowland hay meadow site. At the chalk grassland site a more severe disturbance created by turf stripping was used and shown to be preferable. Whilst both hay strewing and brush harvesting increased plant species richness, hay strewing was more effective at creating a sward similar to that of the donor site. Soil disturbance and seed application rate at the recipient site and timing of the hay cut at the donor site are all factors to be considered prior to the commencement of restoration management.     

Effects of grazing by horses and/or cattle on the diversity of coastal grasslands in western France

In the coastal grasslands of western France, extensive mixed grazing by cattle and horses has been practised for many centuries. The vegetation of these old embanked grasslands varies along a topographical gradient with a hygrophilous plant community in low-lying depressions seasonally flooded, a mesophilous community on high level flats that are never flooded, and a meso-hygrophilous community on slopes where the soil remains saline. Recently, fewer horses have been grazed on these pastures and so a 6-year study was designed to investigate the effects of monospecific and mixed grazing by horses and cattle on plant community structure, composition and diversity. Mixed grazing produced the most species-rich and structurally diverse swards. Mixed grazing enhanced the development of rosette, sub-halophyte and halophyte species where the soil is saline, due to additive effects between the two herbivore species. Mixed grazing also limited the strongly competitive Elymus repens and Agrostis stolonifera on horse latrine areas, cattle grazing, thus showing a compensatory effect. The combination of additive and compensatory effects with mixed grazing could be used to manage plant diversity, heterogeneity in vegetation structure and communities of conservation value at the scale of the grassland ecosystem.     

放牧对植物群落特征和土壤微生物及酶活性的影响

[目的]探讨放牧对羊草群落和贝加尔针茅群落的影响,为草原土壤的保护和草原自然保护区建设提供科学依据。[方法]以呼伦贝尔草甸草原为样地,采用野外调查和实验室分析相结合的方法。[结果]在放牧干扰下,以羊草为建群种的群落所受的影响比贝加尔针茅群落小,植物群落盖度、高度和Simpson指数明显高于贝加尔针茅群,物种多样性更丰富,生长情况相对更好。羊草草原土壤全氮、全磷和有机质含量高于贝加尔针茅草原土壤。各放牧区土壤微生物数量均表现为:细菌放线菌真菌;垂直分布为0—10cm10—20cm;土壤脲酶、过氧化氢酶、转化酶活性、全N,全P和有机质等0—10cm土层的均高于10—20cm。相关分析表明,植物群落α多样性与土壤微生物数量、土壤酶活性、全N,全P和有机质等呈显著正相关。[结论]适度放牧有助于提高草甸草原羊草群落和贝加尔针茅群落α多样性、土壤微生物数量和土壤酶活性。两个群落相比较,羊草群落更适合放牧。     

Bioorganic fertilizer maintains a more stable soil microbiome than chemical fertilizer for monocropping

Understanding the responses of soil microbiome composition to various farming practices is important for selecting suitable managements to maintain soil functions. In this study, the influences of heavy chemical fertilizer application (CF) and reduced chemical fertilizer supplemented with organic (OF) or bioorganic fertilizer (BF, BF = OF + Trichoderma) on composition of soil microbiome were investigated for monocropping cucumber systems using a five-season continuous pot experiment. The MiSeq sequencing data indicated that the CF treatment resulted in the lowest fungal diversity and the BF treatment resulted in a relatively higher one close to the initial soil (CK). The BF and OF treatments had similar impacts on the composition of bacterial community, and the CF treatment significantly reduced bacterial diversity. Although both OF and BF treatments had better plant growth responses, they had less disturbance on the composition of fungal community relative to the CF treatment. The BF treatment is more predictable than the other treatments for postponing fungal diversity as the inoculated fungal species significantly (p < 0.05) affected the fungal community. In conclusion, the combination of bioorganic fertilizers with reduced chemical fertilizer application can maintain a diverse soil microbiome in cucumber monocropping.     

Biomass production of Lolio‐Cynosuretum grassland is not increased by plant‐species richness

In experimental grasslands, a positive relationship between biomass production and plant diversity has often been found. Here, we compared a moderately species‐rich old sward with its grass‐dominated counterpart (12 vs. 8 species per 2.5 m², or 8.3 vs. 0.7% yield proportion of dicots at the start of the experiment) established by herbicide application. We hypothesized an increased N, P and K uptake in the diverse sward related to a higher colonization rate with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), the presence of legumes, and complementary nutrient use of plant species. Phosphorus or N fertilizer application (according to contributions of AMF or legumes) were expected to balance the assumed smaller biomass production of the grass compared to the diverse sward. In two experimental years, N, P and K uptake, biomass production, N₂ fixation, and intra‐ and extraradical AMF colonization were investigated in an untreated control and plots that were fertilized with P and N in a low (P1: 20 kg P ha^?1; N1: 50 kg N ha^?1) or a high dose (P2: 100 kg P ha^?1; N2: 500 kg N ha^?1) in both swards. Biomass production was larger in the grass compared to the diverse sward. The N, P and K uptake, accumulated over three harvests (or 1.5 years), was also larger in the grass sward. The biomass production ranged from 5.3 to 10.0 t ha^?1 and accumulated nutrient uptake from 82 to191 kg N ha^?1, 19 to 31 kg P ha^?1 and 112 to 221 kg K ha^?1. Small legume proportions resulted in an accumulated N₂ fixation between 0 and 3 kg ha^?1. In the second year, the root length colonized with AMF structures was larger in the diverse compared to the grass sward, and the root length colonized with arbuscules and coils was larger in the N2 treatment compared to the control in the diverse sward. There were hints to higher AMF abundance under conditions of limited P availability (low soil P content, high N:P ratio in plant biomass). We conclude that in semi‐natural grassland of moderate species richness several factors may affect the relationship between plant diversity and productivity, i.e., management, plant species identity, and the number of the plant species of the low‐diversity level.     

Grazing as a management tool in dune grasslands: Evidence of soil and scale dependence of the effect of large herbivores on plant diversity

In nature management, the introduction of large herbivores into human-influenced grasslands is thought to be effective to maintain or enhance plant diversity. In order to test the validity of this assumption, we studied the effect of grazing by large herbivores on plant species richness and community heterogeneity across a soil acidity gradient at different spatial scales in dry coastal dune grasslands in western Belgium and north-western France. The effect of grazing on plant richness varied with scale and soil acidity. Grazing had a predominantly positive effect on plant species richness in all habitats at the small scale (0.25 × 0.25 m). However, at site scale (8 × 8 m) it had only positive effects in grasslands with higher soil pH (6-7.4). Similarly, grazing resulted in a homogenization of grassland vegetation at lower pH, while heterogeneity increased with grazing on soil with higher pH. In general, grazing increased the number of rare species, independent of soil pH. The results confirm that the impact of grazing on plant diversity depends on the scale considered and that the effects further depend on soil acidity which was correlated to biomass production at the given soil pH range in this study. Although grazing seems an appropriate management tool to maintain and even enhance plant biodiversity under many circumstances, it may negatively affect plant species richness, where soil resources limit plant biomass production.     

Starving the soil of plant inputs for 50 years reduces abundance but not diversity of soil bacterial communities

If soil communities rely on plant-derived carbon, is biodiversity lost when this primary source is removed? Soil microbial and mesofaunal communities at the Rothamsted Highfield site were compared under a mixed grass sward, arable rotation and a section maintained as a bare-fallow for the past 50 years by regular tillage. Organic matter reserves have been degraded and microbial and mesofaunal numbers and mite diversity have declined in this unique bare-fallow site, where fresh carbon inputs have been drastically reduced. However, it supports a species-rich metabolically active bacterial community of similar diversity to that in soil maintained as grass sward. Thus in contrast to soil mesofauna, bacterial diversity (but not abundance) is apparently independent of plant inputs.     

藏北高寒草甸土壤线虫群落对围封及自由放牧的响应

为了解放牧干扰对藏北高寒草甸的影响,以及连续围封措施对草地的恢复作用,2013—2015年连续3年对那曲县围封、自由放牧天然高寒草甸土壤线虫群落进行取样调查及数据分析。结果表明:围封、放牧样地的线虫个体数量在年际间的变化均较明显,植食性线虫是整个线虫群落个体数量变化的主要贡献者;围封样地的线虫个体密度、多样性指数H′、丰富度指数SR,以及优势度指数λ的年际变化幅度均大于放牧样地;食细菌性线虫个体数量及线虫通路比值(NCR)表明放牧样地的有机质转化效率高于围封样地;成熟度指数(MI)、植物寄生线虫指数(PPI)分析表明,所研究区域经5年围封,高寒草甸生态系统稳定性没有明显的提高,相反,现有放牧强度维持或者增加了线虫群落的物种多样性,利于物种共存和草地生态系统稳定性的维持。     

沙地土壤C∶N∶P比对早期植物群落物种多样性的影响

为揭示土壤碳∶氮∶磷(C∶N∶P)比对植物群落物种多样性的影响,以宁夏哈巴湖国家级自然保护区内沙地植物群落(沙柳群落和油蒿群落)为研究对象,调查计算了沙地植物群落的物种多样性,测定了群落中土壤C、N、P含量,分析讨论了土壤C∶N∶P比与沙地植物群落物种多样性之间的关系。结果表明,分布于流动、半固定沙地的沙柳群落其土壤C∶N∶P比对物种多样性的影响不显著,而分布于半固定、固定沙地的油蒿群落其土壤C∶N∶P比对物种多样性的影响显著。这说明沙地植物群落生物量不断增大的同时,枯枝落叶增多,土壤C、N、P显著增多,较大的土壤C∶N比与N∶P比与不断增大的物种多样性有趋同变化,因此,土壤的C∶N∶P比能够影响沙地植物群落的物种多样性。     

Small mammalian herbivores as mediators of plant community dynamics in the high-altitude arid rangelands of Trans-Himalaya

The high-altitude rangelands of the Trans-Himalaya represent a grazing ecosystem which has supported an indigenous pastoral community for millennia alongside a diverse assemblage of wild herbivores including burrowing mammals (pikas and voles). Pastoralists consider the small mammals to cause rangeland degradation and as competitors for their livestock, and actively eradicate them at many places. We present data on the ways in which small herbivores like pikas and voles mediate plant community dynamics. Vegetation cover and plant species richness were compared on and off both active and abandoned small mammal colonies. Plant species richness was higher inside colonies (about 4-5 species/plot) than outside (about 3 species/plot) whereas vegetation cover was only marginally lower (52% compared to 60%). Soil disturbance due to small mammals is seen to be associated with higher plant diversity without causing dramatic decline in overall vegetation cover. Such disturbance-mediated dynamics and vegetation mosaics produce a rich array of testable hypotheses that can highlight how small mammals influence assembly processes, succession, and dominance hierarchies in plant communities in this arid ecosystem. So, eradicating small mammals may lead to declining levels of diversity in this ecosystem, and compromise ecosystem-functioning. Changes in traditional pastoral practices and overstocking are more likely to be responsible for degradation. We emphasize that eradicating small mammals can lead to loss of diversity in this ecosystem and it is not a solution for the degradation problems.     

Structural diversity and enzyme activity of volcanic soils at different stages of development and response to experimental disturbance

We investigated the phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) diversity and enzyme activities in soils from the volcano, Mt. Etna (Sicily). The soils were at sites which have been developing for different periods of time and have formed in volcanic lava of differing ages that have been supplemented with volcanic ejecta from subsequent eruptions. However, the plant communities indicated a marked successional difference between the sites and we have used this as a proxy for developmental stage. We have compared the structural and functional properties of the microbial communities in soils from the two sites and tested experimentally the hypothesis that the more diverse community was more resistant and resilient to disturbance. The experimental disturbance imposed was heating (60 °C for 48 h) and the recovery of enzyme activities (β-glucosidase, acid phosphatase and arylsulfatase) and structural properties (PLFA profiles) were then followed over six months. The microbial community in the soil from the older site was more structurally diverse and had a larger total PLFA concentration before disturbance than that of the soil from the younger site. The older soil community was not more resistant and resilient following an environmental disturbance as the younger soil community was equally or more resistant and resilient for all parameters. Changes in enzyme activities following disturbance were almost entirely attributable to changes in biomass (total PLFA).     

放牧对荒漠草原土壤养分及微生物量的影响

[目的]探讨不同放牧强度对荒漠草原植被多样性、土壤理化性状、土壤养分及土壤微生物量的影响。[方法]以围封禁牧草地为对照,采用野外调查和室内分析的方法,对不同放牧强度下的草地土壤及植被展开调查。[结果]随放牧强度的增加,荒漠草原植被盖度、物种多样性、地上生物量、土壤养分和微生物量显著降低,土壤容重和pH值呈增加趋势,土壤电导率呈先增加后降低趋势,地下生物量则没有明显变化趋势;在植被作用下土壤养分和微生物量垂直方向表现递减规律并且在表层富集,"表聚性"较为明显;在放牧干扰下土壤全磷变异系数最高;放牧并没有改变荒漠草原土壤养分和微生物量的垂直分布特征;相关分析表明,放牧干扰下土壤微生物量与土壤养分之间具有较强的相关性,二者与土壤含水量也有较强的相关性。[结论]放牧强度对土壤全磷的空间变异影响较大,并且土壤微生物量对于放牧干扰的敏感性高于土壤养分全量;土壤养分和微生物量等地下生态系统各指标之间具有统一性。     

放牧对荒漠草原植物生物量及土壤养分的影响

以宁夏荒漠草原为研究对象,探讨放牧对荒漠草原植物多样性、 生物量及土壤养分特征的影响。结果表明, 放牧对荒漠草原植物群落多样性、 均匀度和丰富度影响显著。植物群落多样性和均匀度随着放牧强度的增加均呈先增加后降低的趋势,在轻度放牧达到最大值。同围封禁牧相比,重度、 中度和轻度放牧草地的植物地上和地下部生物量显著降低,分别降低了43.8%、 42.0%、 15.4% 和 27.7%、16.2%、11.9%。土壤有机碳随着放牧强度的增加而降低,而土壤全氮含量随着放牧强度的增加呈先增加后降低的趋势。围封禁牧草地土壤有机碳比重度放牧增加了18.1%,而土壤全磷、 速效磷和全钾含量分别降低了 21.1%、 51.9% 和 11.0%。土壤有机碳含量对植物群落地上和地下部生物量的影响大于土壤全氮、 全磷、 全钾、 速效磷和速效钾。放牧干扰下荒漠草原土壤环境及其养分含量,能在一定程度上反映植物群落多样性和生物量的变化。     

Size matters: What have we learnt from microcosm studies of decomposer fungus–invertebrate interactions?

The ongoing research ‘boom’ in soil ecology has been advanced by a widespread use of laboratory experiments to investigate mechanisms that could not be unravelled with field observations alone. Interactions between soil fungi and invertebrates have received considerable attention due to their trophic and functional importance in belowground systems. Saprotrophic cord-forming basidiomycete fungi are major agents of primary decomposition in woodland ecosystems, where they are also an important source of nutrition for fungal-feeding soil invertebrates. A plethora of microcosm experiments, with their main benefit being that they enable most variables to be kept constant while just a few are manipulated, have provided detailed insights into the ecology of fungus–invertebrate interactions. This review identifies important trends from this body of work (including a meta-analysis of grazing effects on fungal growth and wood decomposition) and explores the extent to which these patterns are supported by the few related experiments conducted in more complex mesocosm and field systems. Grazing in microcosms reduced fungal growth and increased decomposition, but with interaction-specific magnitude, reflecting invertebrate feeding preferences for different fungi. Macro-invertebrates (woodlice and millipedes) had stronger effects than micro- (e.g. nematodes) and meso- (e.g. collembola) invertebrates. This greater grazing pressure generally increased enzyme activities beneath mycelia during interactions in which wood decay was increased. Top-down effects of fungal-feeding can be extrapolated to more complex systems, but only for macro-invertebrates, particularly woodlice. Soil enzyme activity was stimulated, in microcosms and more complex systems, by short-term or low intensity grazing, but reduced when large areas of mycelium were removed by high-intensity grazing. Effects of differential fungal palatability on invertebrate populations are evident in microcosm studies of collembola. These bottom-up effects can be extrapolated more broadly than top-down effects; fungal community dominance determined collembola abundance and diversity, in mesocosms, and woodlouse abundance in the field. Using, as a case study, a series of experiments conducted at a range of scales, mechanisms underlying potential climate change effects on grazing interactions and decomposition are also explored. Biotic effects on decomposer community functioning are heterogeneous, depending on fungal dominance and the density of key macro-invertebrate taxa.     

Effects of Pseudomonas aeruginosa on the diversity of culturable microfungi and nematodes associated with tomato: impact on root-knot disease and plant growth

The available information on Pseudomonas biocontrol inoculants on the non-target fungal and nematode community is scant. The current paper addresses this issue and investigates the effects of biocontrol agents Pseudomonas aeruginosa IE-6 and IE-6S⁺ (previously shown to suppress several soil-borne plant pathogens) on soil microfungi and plant-parasitic nematodes as well as on the root-knot development and growth of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). Furadan, a granular nematicide was included as a treatment for comparative purposes. Treatments were applied to soil at the start of each 52-day-long tomato growth cycle, and their effects on the composition and diversity of rhizosphere and endophytic microfungi and plant-parasitic nematodes were examined at the end of first and fourth growth cycle. Several diversity indices were employed to assess community diversity. A total of 16 genera comprising 23 microfungal species were isolated from the tomato rhizosphere. The most abundant fungal species belonged to the genera Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Penicillium. With a few exceptions, fungi were neither exclusively inhibited nor specifically promoted by the application of treatments at any of the growth cycles studied. However, Paecilomyces lilacinus, an egg and female parasite of root-knot nematode, though exclusively absent in the controls was isolated from the treatments. Both general diversity and equitability of rhizosphere microfungi were greater at first compared to the fourth growth cycle while species richness remained uninfluenced across the growth cycles and treatments. However, Furadan and IE-6S⁺ treatments considerably abated general diversity and equitability. Of the microfungal species isolated from the rhizosphere seven were also recovered from surface-sterilized root tissue of tomato suggesting that all the endophytes are primarily rhizosphere organisms. Diversity of endophytic fungi was consistently lower compared with that of the rhizosphere. Both general diversity and equitability declined in all three treatments relative to controls in the root tissue but species richness remained unaltered. Diversity and equitability of plant-parasitic nematodes in soil were reduced by all three treatments over the controls at fourth growth cycle whilst species richness did not change at either growth cycle. The biocontrol agents significantly reduced root-knot development and enhanced shoot growth of tomato over the controls. The possible implications of fungal composition and abundance because of biocontrol by Pseudomonas application are discussed.     

Grazing management of calcareous grasslands and its implications for the conservation of beetle communities

Calcareous grasslands are an important habitat for floral and faunal communities in the UK and Europe. Declines due to changes in management, scrub invasion and agricultural improvement have left much of the remnants of this habitat in a degraded and fragmented state. Grazing, by cattle or sheep, is one of the main management practices used to maintain and improve the floral and faunal quality of calcareous grassland. The long-term impacts of different grazing regimes, however, are poorly understood, particularly in terms of the invertebrate communities. This study contrasted the impacts of recently introduced and long-term sheep or cattle grazing on beetle communities present on one of the largest areas of calcareous grassland in Europe, the Salisbury Plain military training Area, UK. No effects of grazing management on beetle abundance, species richness or evenness were found, but plant diversity and overall percentage cover of grasses did influence beetle diversity. Proportions of the total number of individuals and overall species richness within beetle guilds (predatory, phytophagous, flower/seed feeders, root feeders and foliage feeders) were strongly influenced by both the duration and type of grazing animal. At the species level, beetle community structure showed significant differences between ungrazed, long-term cattle and long-term sheep grazing treatments. Changes in plant community structure were found to influence beetle community structure. The significance of these results is discussed in terms of the long-term impacts of grazing on beetle community structure, and the benefits of different grazing regimes for the conservation management of calcareous grasslands.     

Nitrogen transformations in a peaty soil improved for pastoral agriculture

Abstract. Microbial transformations and chemical distribution of N were compared in two upland stagnohumic gley soils at the same site. In 1981 one soil was improved for more intensive agriculture by lime and fertilizer applications and reseeding with a grass/clover mixture. The other soil (referred to here as unimproved) was also reseeded in 1981, but no lime was added and the sward has subsequently reverted to rough grazing land. Improvement resulted in greater soil microbial activity. The improved soil showed greater rates of denitrification, net N immobilization and N fixation (acetylene reduction) and contained more microbial biomass N than the unimproved soil. However, no major differences in the distribution of organic N fractions were detected. This indicates that a large amount of the soil N present before improvement did not undergo mineralization and remained unavailable to plants.