Relating nematode community structure to different kikuyu-ryegrass pasture establishment methods

Nematodes play an important role in agricultural soil in terms of their pest status and their contribution to soil quality, where they may serve as a valuable indicator of soil health. The aim of the study was to assess changes occurring in nematode community structure, as affected by soil tillage applied to high N-input and irrigated pastures in South Africa. Such practices were investigated by means of analysing diversity and ecosystem function indices, as well as the faunal profile, to enable analysis of their effect on soil quality. The pre-treatment soil analyses showed a low overall mean nematode density. No clear and predictable pattern was present in the nematode community structure in relation to tillage. The lack of indicative information leading from the nematode community structure to the tillage disturbance types might be linked to the fact that such systems were able to recover from soil disturbance within the relatively short period of less than a year.