Maintaining soil biodiversity and function is key to maintaining soil health, nutrient cycling and
decomposition. Different forage species have variable concentrations of essential nutrients and rooting
patterns, potentially affecting soil biology and soileplanteanimal interactions. Our study compared the
effect of growing different forage crops on soil faunal diversity and abundance. Plots of chicory (Cichorium
intybus), red clover (Trifolium pratense), white clover (Trifolium repens) or perennial ryegrass (Lolium
perenne) were established in 2009 and maintained over a four year period. Soil faunal samples were
taken, including soil mesofauna, nematodes and earthworms, at the end of this period in autumn 2012
and spring 2013. Significant differences were found between the forages for a number of biological
groups, as well as some seasonal differences; overall earthworm abundance and biomass was higher
within the white clover treatment, specifically anecic earthworms. Nematode functional groups were
found to differ, with greater numbers of fungal feeders in the clovers and chicory treatments, whilst the
herbivores had the greatest abundances in the two ryegrass treatments. Overall the microarthropod
order abundances did not differ, however two collembolan superfamilies did show differences between
treatments with the detritivorous Poduromorpha having a higher abundance in the clovers and chicory
treatment and the herbivorous Symphypleona had a higher abundance in the ryegrass treatment.
Relatively little is known about the links between soil biology and the effects of plant type because of the
complex nature of soil, however here we have begun to reveal some of these linkages. Overall, the
findings indicate a relationship between ryegrass and herbivorous invertebrates, whilst the other forages
have a stronger relationship with decomposer invertebrates; changing the dominance within the soil
food web dependent on forage type