Site and management effects on soil microbial properties of subalpine meadows: a study of land abandonment along a north-south gradient in the European Alps

We studied the factors which regulate microbial community organization in s oils of managed ecosystems. Soil microbial biomass C and N (SMBC, SMBN), E- C/E-NIN ratio, ergosterol, and phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) were determi ned in organically fertilised meadows and grasslands with abandoned managem ent at three sites (Stubai Valley, Passeier Valley, and Monte Bondone) to s tudy the relative importance of the factors sire and management in governin g the variability of soil microbial biomass and community structure in suba lpine grasslands of the European Alps. Our data provide evidence that manag ement abandonment has important effects on the structure of the soil microb ial biomass, namely an increase in the fungal biomass. SMBC, SMBN, E-C/E-NI N ratio and ergosterol contents differed significantly between sites. SMBC was similar in abandoned and managed grasslands, whereas SMBN was lower and ergosterol contents were higher in abandoned grasslands as compared to man aged meadows. We concluded that the impact of management abandonment on soi l microbial biomass was of relatively less importance than effects of site and sampling time, and the effect of abandonment may be better detected at the community scale of resolution. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All right s reserved.