长期不同施肥下太湖地区黄泥土表土微生物碳氮量及基因多样性变化

农业管理措施影响下土壤微生物群落结构的变化是农业土壤质量研究的前沿问题。运用化学分析方法和 PCR- DGGE技术从土壤微生物碳氮量及基因多样性角度研究了长期不同施肥措施下太湖地区代表性水稻土 -黄泥土的表土微生物活性与分子多样性的变化。结果表明 ,施用化肥以及化肥和有机肥配施在提高土壤有机碳含量的同时 ,不仅提高了水稻土的微生物碳氮量 ,而且改变了微生物的群落结构 ;与长期单施化肥相比 ,长期化肥配施有机肥不仅显著提高了土壤微生物碳氮量 ,而且提高了土壤微生物的分子多样性 ;就土壤的微生物分子群落相似性来说 ,单施化肥下与未施肥下相近 ,而化肥配施秸秆下与化肥配施猪粪下接近 ,说明土壤的有机培肥对土壤微生物群落结构有重要影响。长期单施化肥下水稻产量的年际波动性显著大于化肥配施有机肥下 ,这进一步佐证了化肥配施有机肥显著促进了水稻土的生态系统初级生产力与较高的土壤生态系统稳定性。应用PCR- DGGE技术所揭示的微生物分子群落结构特点可以指示水稻土 10 a尺度的不同农业管理措施下的土壤质量变化     

长期不同施肥制度对潮棕壤肥力及微生物活性的影响

利用长期定位试验研究了不同施肥制度对潮棕壤肥力及微生物活性的影响。结果表明:长期施用有机肥、无机肥显著降低土壤pH;长期施用化肥并不能增加土壤全碳、氮含量,而有机肥的长期施用却能显著提高土壤有机质含量;土壤长期无P、K肥料施入则会出现P、K的亏损。有机肥处理(M,N+M和NPK+M)的微生物量均显著高于不施肥处理(CK),且这些处理间无显著差异;NPK处理与CK处理间无显著差异,而长期施用N肥显著降低土壤微生物量;均衡施肥处理(M,N+M,NPK和NPK+M)均能显著增强土壤微生物呼吸(P0.05),而单施N处理对土壤微生物呼吸无显著影响;与CK相比,施肥处理均能显著提高土壤氨化作用(P0.05),其中以NPK+M处理最高;除N处理外,其他施肥处理均显著提高土壤硝化作用(P0.05)。相关性分析显示,土壤微生物量碳、氮,微生物呼吸,氨化和硝化作用均与土壤全碳、全氮极显著相关(P0.01),均能够较好地反映土壤肥力变化情况;而土壤微生物活性与其他理化因子相关性不一致,表明它们对土壤理化因子变化的响应程度不同。     

长期不同施肥对稻田土壤微生物群落功能多样性的影响

微生物群落功能多样性对土壤管理具有重要指示作用,施肥措施对土壤微生物群落功能多样性产生重要的影响,从而影响土壤有机质的含量,引起土地碳贮量变化,进而影响到陆地生态系统的碳汇.以位于湖南省桃江县国家级稻田肥力长期定位试验点的土样为研究对象,采用BIOLOG测试板对不同施肥处理下土壤微生物功能多样性进行了研究.研究结果显示,土壤微生物的碳源利用率因长期不同的施肥处理而发生分异.Shannon和Simpson指数的结果显示所有施肥处理均有利于维持微生物群落多样性,但秸秆还田和习惯施肥使群落均匀度(McIntosh指数)降低.主成分分析表明,试验点土壤微生物群落利用的主要碳源为氨基酸类和糖类,但不同施肥处理碳源利用类型有差异.结果可以得出,不同的施肥对土壤微生物功能多样性产生了不同影响,从而影响土壤有机质中碳、氮含量.这些信息可以为深入研究施肥对全球碳氮循环以及全球气候变迁提供依据.     

26年长期施肥对土壤微生物量碳、氮及土壤呼吸的影响

研究长期小麦连作施肥条件下土壤微生物量碳、氮,土壤呼吸的变化及其与土壤养分的相关性。以陕西长武长期定位试验为平台,应用氯仿熏蒸-K2SO4提取法、碱液吸收法和化学分析法分析了长达26a不同施肥处理农田土壤微生物量碳、微生物量氮和土壤呼吸之间的差异及其调控土壤肥力的作用。长期施肥及种植作物,均能提高土壤微生物量碳、氮含量,尤其是施用有机肥,土壤微生物量碳、氮含量高于单施无机肥的处理,土壤呼吸量也提高15.91%—75.73%,而施用无机肥对于土壤呼吸无促进作用。土壤微生物生物量碳氮、土壤呼吸与土壤有机质、全氮呈极显著相关。长期有机无机肥配施可以提高土壤微生物量碳氮、土壤呼吸,氮磷肥与厩肥配施对提高土壤肥力效果最好。微生物量碳氮及土壤呼吸可以反映土壤质量的变化,作为评价土壤肥力的生物学指标。     

不同施肥制度土壤微生物量碳氮变化及细菌群落16S rDNA V3 片段PCR产物的DGGE分析

应用化学分析和变性梯度凝胶电泳（DGGE）技术分离PCR扩增的16S rDNA的方法,研究了不同施肥制度对土壤微生物量碳、氮变化及微生物多样性的影响。结果表明,连续15a长期试验下,土壤微生物量碳（SMB-C）和微生物量氮（SMB-N）的含量大小均为长期撂荒（CK0）土壤高于农田土壤,而在农田土壤中,长期施肥的处理（NPK、NPKM、NPKSt和NPKF）高于长期不施肥处理（CK）,不同的种植制度中,长期复种轮作（NPKF）高于长期复种连作（NPK）;各处理的SMB-C/SOC（土壤有机碳）和SMB-N/TN（全氮）的比值的变化趋势与SMB-C和SMB-N变化一致;从PCR-DGGE分析,长期氮磷钾化肥配施有机肥（NPKM）处理的微生物量碳、氮的含量最高,微生物丰度最高,细菌物种最多,其次为长期撂荒（CK0）,CK处理细菌物种最少。UPGMC聚类分析表明NPK和NPKF处理细菌的群落结构相似,CK和CK0处理细菌的群落结构相似,而NPKM和NPKSt处理细菌的群落结构相似。     

用PCR-DGGE研究长期施用无机肥对种稻红壤微生物群落多样性的影响

以中国科学院红壤生态试验站的发育于第四纪红粘土的种稻红壤为研究对象,采用PCR-DGGE方法研究了长期施用无机肥对土壤微生物群落多样性的影响。在种植双季稻、连续13a施用不同无机肥后,土壤中细菌、古菌、放线菌和真菌的群落结构发生了较大的变化。未种植水稻的土壤与种稻土壤间四类微生物SSUrDNADGGE带谱相似性只有33%~66%。施磷肥的处理NP、PK、NPK之间微生物群落结构相似性较高,4类微生物的SSUrDNADGGE带谱相似性高达75%~81%。施氮钾肥(NK)、不施肥(CK)处理与施磷肥处理间土壤微生物群落结构的差异较大,其四类微生物的SSUrDNADGGE带谱相似性分别为69%~77%、55%~77%。研究的目的是深入地了解土壤中微生物群落的多样性,为科学施肥、合理利用土壤、保护微生物多样性和实现农业生态系统的可持续发展提供科学依据。     

长期定位施肥与地膜覆盖对土壤肥力和生物学性质的影响

采集沈阳农业大学棕壤定位实验站(1987年设置)的土样,测定土壤pH、有机碳、全氮、碱解氮、速效磷、速效钾、微生物生物量碳、氮和BIOLOG碳源利用,结合地上部分生物量,系统分析了长期施肥与地膜覆盖对土壤肥力指标和微生物学性质的影响.结果表明,传统栽培条件下,土壤微生物群落平均吸光度(AWCD)与土壤有机碳含量、速效磷和有效钾显著相关(p<0 01),表明施肥通过影响有机碳和速效磷、钾含量影响微生物功能.在覆膜栽培条件下,AWCD与土壤pH和土壤碳氮比显著相关(p<0.01),表明覆膜通过影响土壤pH和土壤碳氮比影响微生物功能.覆膜引起玉米生育期的变化,影响有效碳的投入,从而直接影响土壤微生物功能.与相应的传统栽培相比,覆膜栽培后土壤pH的变化对微生物群落结构有一致影响.     

应用PLFA方法分析长期不同施肥处理对玉米地土壤微生物群落结构的影响

土壤微生物群落被认为是土壤生态系统变化的预警及敏感指标,指示土壤质量变化,决定着土壤的生态功能.为了探讨长期施肥处理(1987～2004年)对土壤微生物群落结构的影响,采用磷脂脂肪酸(PLFA)法测定了沈阳农业大学棕壤长期定位试验站玉米地不同施肥土壤微生物生物量的活性部分及群落结构的变化情况.结论:长期施肥处理都能提高土壤微生物总生物量、细菌生物量及真菌生物量,特别是有机肥和有机无机肥配施在整个生育期对微生物总生物量的增加作用比较明显.真菌的生长与季节变化和玉米生育的关系较为密切,各施肥处理土壤真菌含量在抽雄期都明显降低.长期不同施肥处理可以改变土壤微生物群落结构,单施氮肥处理土壤微生物群落结构与长期不施肥处理较为相似,没有明显的优势种群.施用有机肥和有机无机配施的土壤微生物群落均以含a15:0, i15:0, cy17:0, i16:0, 16:1w7t,10Me18:0和15:0的微生物为优势种群.土壤有机质、碱解氮、速效磷和速效钾是微生物生长和活性的主要能源和营养因子.     

不同施肥制度甘蔗地土壤养分对微生物群落结构的影响

以广西红壤长期定位施肥甘蔗地为研究对象,探讨了不同施肥措施甘蔗地土壤微生物群落特征以及土壤养分对微生物群落结构的影响。结果表明,长期优化施肥可以提高土壤微生物多样性,不施肥土壤微生物生长得到显著抑制。土壤全氮、全钾、速效钾含量与微生物群落结构密切相关,可采取适当增加钾肥用量以增加微生物多样性,提高土壤肥力。土壤中磷素含量与微生物群落结构无显著相关,红壤甘蔗地中磷肥用量应适当,不宜过量施用。     

有机无机缓释复合肥对土壤微生物量碳、氮和群落结构的影响

研究缓释复合肥不同用量对土壤微生物量碳、氮和群落结构多样性的影响,在农业生产上广泛应用缓释复合肥有着重要意义。试验采用室内长期恒温培养和磷脂脂肪酸法,以化肥和普通复合肥适量施用养分量为对比,研究缓释复合肥适量、高量和超高量施肥水平对土壤微生物PLFA含量的影响规律。结果表明,SRF1、SRF2、SRF3(缓释复合肥适量、高量和超高量)较CK(不施肥)和CF1(化肥适量)显著增加土壤微生物量碳,且较CK、CF1和CCF1(普通复合肥适量)显著增加土壤微生物量氮。土壤微生物量碳、氮随着缓释复合肥施肥水平的增加而增加,但没有随着施肥水平的倍量增加而倍量增加,且SRF2和SRF3无显著差异。缓释复合肥(SRF1、SRF2和SRF3)较CK、CF1和CCF1增加土壤PLFA的种类和含量,且总PLFA含量增加7.4%—26.7%、17.6%—38.7%和12.8%—33.0%,3个施肥水平以SRF2作用效果最好,总PLFA含量最高,分别较SRF1和较SRF3高16.4%和17.9%。土壤细菌、放线菌、革兰氏阳性菌和革兰氏阴性菌PLFA含量以SRF1和SRF2显著高于CF1和CCF1。主成分分析和聚类分析显示施肥处理分布较多PLFA的优势种群,SRF3与SRF1和SRF2的PLFA结构差别较大。综上认为,适量施肥水平以缓释复合肥较化肥和普通复合肥对土壤微生物的作用显著,其中缓释复合肥3个施肥水平以高量施肥水平作用最好。     

土壤微生物学特性对土壤健康的指示作用

土壤健康是陆地生态系统可持续发展的基础。作者通过概述土壤微生物学特性(土壤微生物群落结构、土壤微生物生物量、土壤酶活性)与土壤质量的关系, 阐明了土壤微生物对土壤健康的生物指示功能。研究表明: 土壤中细菌、真菌和放线菌的组成及其所占比率在一定程度上反映了土壤的肥力水平: 在土壤性质和肥水条件较好的土壤中, 细菌所占比率较高。土壤微生物生物量与土壤有机质含量密切相关, 而且土壤微生物生物量碳与土壤有机碳的比值(C_mic : C_org)和土壤微生物代谢熵(qCO2)的变化在一定程度上反映了土壤有机碳的利用效率。一般情况下, 土壤酶活性高的土壤中, 土壤微生物生物量碳、氮含量也高。因此, 土壤微生物学特性可以反映土壤质量的变化, 并可用作评价土壤健康的生物指标。     

不同还田方式对砂质潮土理化性质及微生物的影响

为探索不同物料还田方式对中低产田砂质潮土的改良效果,在黄淮海平原麦玉轮作区典型砂质潮土上进行了连续6季的田间小区试验,设置全量秸秆翻耕还田(TS),秸秆等碳量的生物炭(TB)及半量秸秆半量生物炭配合翻耕还田(TSB),全量秸秆免耕覆盖还田(NTS)和半量秸秆半量生物炭配合免耕覆盖还田(NTSB),共5种还田方式。结果表明,与常规秸秆翻耕还田(TS)相比,生物炭翻耕还田(TB)显著降低土壤容重,增加玉米各个生育期土壤水分和p H值,有机质含量提升了16.4%,但TB处理的土壤大团聚体降低了21.2%和微生物数量降低了16.1%;翻耕秸秆配合生物炭还田(TSB)除了显著降低了大团聚体数量,对其余理化及微生物指标的影响均不显著;免耕模式下的秸秆还田(NTS)和秸秆生物炭配施(NTSB)分别在玉米生长的喇叭口期和收获期显著增加了土壤水分含量、耕层土壤的微生物数量和有效降低砂质潮土分形维数,对容重和有机质含量有一定的改善,其中NTSB有机质含量提升了14.9%和微生物数量增加了53.7%,对砂质潮土改良效果更好。总体来说,短期内用等碳量的生物炭替代秸秆翻耕还田更多的表现为物理的掺混效应,虽能有效提升土壤有机质含量,但不能有效改善砂质潮土的物理结构及生物性质,一半秸秆用生物炭替代还田对该类土壤的理化及微生物指标的改良效果也不显著,而免耕条件下秸秆配合生物碳还田效果最佳,可为砂质潮土的改良提供新的途径和理论依据。     

The response of microbial biomass and hydrolytic enzymes to a decade of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium addition in a lowland tropical rain forest

Nutrient availability is widely considered to constrain primary productivity in lowland tropical forests, yet there is little comparable information for the soil microbial biomass. We assessed microbial nutrient limitation by quantifying soil microbial biomass and hydrolytic enzyme activities in a long-term nutrient addition experiment in lowland tropical rain forest in central Panama. Multiple measurements were made over an annual cycle in plots that had received a decade of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and micronutrient addition. Phosphorus addition increased soil microbial carbon (13 %), nitrogen (21 %), and phosphorus (49 %), decreased phosphatase activity by ~65 % and N-acetyl β-glucosaminidase activity by 24 %, but did not affect β-glucosidase activity. In contrast, addition of nitrogen, potassium, or micronutrients did not significantly affect microbial biomass or the activity of any enzyme. Microbial nutrients and hydrolytic enzyme activities all declined markedly in the dry season, with the change in microbial biomass equivalent to or greater than the annual nutrient flux in fine litter fall. Although multiple nutrients limit tree productivity at this site, we conclude that phosphorus limits microbial biomass in this strongly-weathered lowland tropical forest soil. This finding indicates that efforts to include enzymes in biogeochemical models must account for the disproportionate microbial investment in phosphorus acquisition in strongly-weathered soils.     

杉木人工林土壤微生物生物量碳氮特征及其与土壤养分的关系

研究了湖南会同红黄壤区杉木人工林和常绿阔叶林土壤微生物量和养分状况.结果表明,该区杉木人工林取代地带性常绿阔叶林和杉木连栽后,土壤微生物碳、氮和土壤养分含量下降,土壤严重退化.在0～10 cm土层内,常绿阔叶林土壤微生物碳和氮含量为800.5和84.5 mg·kg^-1,分别是第1代杉木林的1.90和1.03倍、第2代杉木林的2.16和1.27倍;在10～20 cm土层内,常绿阔叶林土壤微生物碳和氮含量为475.4和63.3 mg·kg^-1,分别是第1代杉木纯林的1.86、1.60倍和第2代杉木林的2.11和1.76倍.在0～10 cm 和10～20cm土层内,杉木人工林取代常绿阔叶林和杉木栽植代数增加后,土壤全氮、全钾、铵态氮和速效钾含量均明显降低,但差异并不显著.人工杉木林林分组成单一,其凋落物分解慢、归还养分数量少;炼山等造成的表土流失是杉木人工林土壤微生物量和养分库退化的重要原因.土壤微生物碳与土壤全氮、铵态氮、全钾和速效钾含量呈极显著的正相关,土壤微生物氮与土壤养分含量也达到极显著水平.     

Association of plant development to organic matter and fungal presence in soils of horticultural crops

Soil microbial communities are a crucial link between soil nutrient availability and plant productivity. They particularly depend on soil organic matter (SOM) content, which is considered one of the main components of soil fertility. But agricultural intensification and the increase in the use of fertilisers of mineral origin in recent decades (to the detriment of the incorporation of organic materials in agricultural soils) have resulted in a continuous loss of agricultural soil quality and fertility, which is considered one of the greatest challenges to addressing global food security. Therefore, a better understanding of the mechanisms driving soil improvement via soil microbiota could result in a sustainable improvement in crop yields. Soils were sampled in 40 intensively managed greenhouses in southeast Spain to understand how SOM influences soil fungal community and how both these factors influence plant development. The values of three out of four growth‐related variables (plant height, aerial dry weight and leaf area, but not root dry weight) in both tomato and cucumber plants showed a positive relation with SOM content and soil fungal diversity. This study concludes that SOM is key for the maintenance of soil fertility in intensive horticulture and that it is linked to the composition and diversity of soil fungal community. Both SOM and soil fungal communities should be considered as essential factors in achieving high soil fertility, and ultimately, to ensure an optimum crop development.     

Effects of Manure Compost Application on Soil Microbial Community Diversity and Soil Microenvironments in a Temperate Cropland in China

The long-term application of excessive chemical fertilizers has resulted in the degeneration of soil quality parameters such as soil microbial biomass, communities, and nutrient content, which in turn affects crop health, productivity, and soil sustainable productivity. The objective of this study was to develop a rapid and efficient solution for rehabilitating degraded cropland soils by precisely quantifying soil quality parameters through the application of manure compost and bacteria fertilizers or its combination during maize growth. We investigated dynamic impacts on soil microbial count, biomass, basal respiration, community structure diversity, and enzyme activity using six different treatments [no fertilizer (CK), N fertilizer (N), N fertilizer + bacterial fertilizer (NB), manure compost (M), manure compost + bacterial fertilizer (MB), and bacterial fertilizer (B)] in the plowed layer (0–20 cm) of potted soil during various maize growth stages in a temperate cropland of eastern China. Denaturing gradient electrophoresis (DGGE) fingerprinting analysis showed that the structure and composition of bacterial and fungi communities in the six fertilizer treatments varied at different levels. The Shannon index of bacterial and fungi communities displayed the highest value in the MB treatments and the lowest in the N treatment at the maize mature stage. Changes in soil microorganism community structure and diversity after different fertilizer treatments resulted in different microbial properties. Adding manure compost significantly increased the amount of cultivable microorganisms and microbial biomass, thus enhancing soil respiration and enzyme activities (p<0.01), whereas N treatment showed the opposite results (p<0.01). However, B and NB treatments minimally increased the amount of cultivable microorganisms and microbial biomass, with no obvious influence on community structure and soil enzymes. Our findings indicate that the application of manure compost plus bacterial fertilizers can immediately improve the microbial community structure and diversity of degraded cropland soils.     

Linking soil food web structure to above‐ and belowground ecosystem processes: a meta‐analysis

Soil fauna can be an important regulator of community parameters and ecosystem processes, but there have been few quantitative syntheses of the role of soil fauna in terrestrial soil communities and ecosystems. Here, we conducted a meta‐analysis to investigate the impacts of invertebrate soil micro‐ and mesofauna (grazers and predators) on plant productivity and microbial biomass. Overall our results indicate that an increase in the biomass of soil fauna increased aboveground plant productivity across ecosystems by 35% and decreased microbial biomass by 8%. In addition, we found no evidence for trophic cascades in terrestrial soil food webs, but the bacterivorous component of soil fauna influenced plant productivity and microbial biomass more than did the fungivorous component. Furthermore, changes in the biomass of soil fauna differentially affected plant productivity among plant functional groups: a higher biomass of soil fauna increased aboveground productivity by 70% in coniferous systems. However, in ecosystems dominated by legumes, a functional group with lower inorganic nitrogen requirements, there was no response of aboveground productivity to increases in the biomass of soil fauna. In sum, the results of this meta‐analysis indicate that soil fauna help to regulate ecosystem production, especially in nutrient‐limited ecosystems.     

Microbial co-operation in the rhizosphere

Soil microbial populations are immersed in a framework of interactions known to affect plant fitness and soil quality. They are involved in fundamental activities that ensure the stability and productivity of both agricultural systems and natural ecosystems. Strategic and applied research has demonstrated that certain co-operative microbial activities can be exploited, as a low-input biotechnology, to help sustainable, environmentally-friendly, agro-technological practices. Much research is addressed at improving understanding of the diversity, dynamics, and significance of rhizosphere microbial populations and their co-operative activities. An analysis of the co-operative microbial activities known to affect plant development is the general aim of this review. In particular, this article summarizes and discusses significant aspects of this general topic, including (i) the analysis of the key activities carried out by the diverse trophic and functional groups of micro-organisms involved in co-operative rhizosphere interactions; (ii) a critical discussion of the direct microbe-microbe interactions which results in processes benefiting sustainable agro-ecosystem development; and (iii) beneficial microbial interactions involving arbuscular mycorrhiza, the omnipresent fungus-plant beneficial symbiosis. The trends of this thematic area will be outlined, from molecular biology and ecophysiological issues to the biotechnological developments for integrated management, to indicate where research is needed in the future.     

Cascading effects of belowground predators on plant communities are density‐dependent

Soil food webs comprise a multitude of trophic interactions that can affect the composition and productivity of plant communities. Belowground predators feeding on microbial grazers like Collembola could decelerate nutrient mineralization by reducing microbial turnover in the soil, which in turn could negatively influence plant growth. However, empirical evidences for the ecological significance of belowground predators on nutrient cycling and plant communities are scarce. Here, we manipulated predator density (Hypoaspis aculeifer: predatory mite) with equal densities of three Collembola species as a prey in four functionally dissimilar plant communities in experimental microcosms: grass monoculture (Poa pratensis), herb monoculture (Rumex acetosa), legume monoculture (Trifolium pratense), and all three species as a mixed plant community. Density manipulation of predators allowed us to test for density‐mediated effects of belowground predators on Collembola and lower trophic groups. We hypothesized that predator density will reduce Collembola population causing a decrease in nutrient mineralization and hence detrimentally affect plant growth. First, we found a density‐dependent population change in predators, that is, an increase in low‐density treatments, but a decrease in high‐density treatments. Second, prey suppression was lower at high predator density, which caused a shift in the soil microbial community by increasing the fungal: bacterial biomass ratio, and an increase of nitrification rates, particularly in legume monocultures. Despite the increase in nutrient mineralization, legume monocultures performed worse at high predator density. Further, individual grass shoot biomass decreased in monocultures, while it increased in mixed plant communities with increasing predator density, which coincided with elevated soil N uptake by grasses. As a consequence, high predator density significantly increased plant complementarity effects indicating a decrease in interspecific plant competition. These results highlight that belowground predators can relax interspecific plant competition by increasing nutrient mineralization through their density‐dependent cascading effects on detritivore and soil microbial communities.     

Changes in Soil Microbial Community Structure Influenced by Agricultural Management Practices in a Mediterranean Agro-Ecosystem

Agricultural practices have proven to be unsuitable in many cases, causing considerable reductions in soil quality. Land management practices can provide solutions to this problem and contribute to get a sustainable agriculture model. The main objective of this work was to assess the effect of different agricultural management practices on soil microbial community structure (evaluated as abundance of phospholipid fatty acids, PLFA). Five different treatments were selected, based on the most common practices used by farmers in the study area (eastern Spain): residual herbicides, tillage, tillage with oats and oats straw mulching; these agricultural practices were evaluated against an abandoned land after farming and an adjacent long term wild forest coverage. The results showed a substantial level of differentiation in the microbial community structure, in terms of management practices, which was highly associated with soil organic matter content. Addition of oats straw led to a microbial community structure closer to wild forest coverage soil, associated with increases in organic carbon, microbial biomass and fungal abundances. The microbial community composition of the abandoned agricultural soil was characterised by increases in both fungal abundances and the metabolic quotient (soil respiration per unit of microbial biomass), suggesting an increase in the stability of organic carbon. The ratio of bacteria:fungi was higher in wild forest coverage and land abandoned systems, as well as in the soil treated with oat straw. The most intensively managed soils showed higher abundances of bacteria and actinobacteria. Thus, the application of organic matter, such as oats straw, appears to be a sustainable management practice that enhances organic carbon, microbial biomass and activity and fungal abundances, thereby changing the microbial community structure to one more similar to those observed in soils under wild forest coverage.