Makeschin (1994) showed an increase in soil fauna diversity, microbial biomass and most faunal groups, especially decomposers, in tree plantations compared to arable land.
Other studies dealt with mycorrhizal fungi and showed that mycorrhizal colonization significantly increases willow production (Van Der Heijden 2001; Toljander et al. 2006).
The impact of soil conversion to SRC on nutrient availability and soil carbon storage has also been considered. Over the long term, SRC can represent a carbon sink but over the short term
it can induce N and K depletion (Lockwell et al. 2012; Ens et al. 2013).
Compared to other trees, willow is known to be both water- and nutrient-demanding, especially
when cultivated at high densities (Ledin 1998).
Because of this high demand, the soil nutritional status of non-amended SRC plots could modify soil biological activity, communities and biogeochemical cycles.
However, as yet there has been no study about the impact of SRC on soil physico-chemical and especially biological properties.