EN
The effect of earthworm and plant diversity on the number of heterotrophic bacteria, actino- mycetes, microscopic hyphal fungi, yeasts, autotrophic nitrifying bacteria and heterotrophic denitrifying bacteria was studied in a field experiment. The experiment was carried out in pots in which grass was grown. Half the pots were seeded with the single species Festuca rubra L., and the other half with one of 8 species: Festuca rubra L, Phleum pratense L., Dactylis glomerata L., Bromus inermis Leyees, Festuca arundinacea Schreb., Poa pratensis L., Lolium perenne L. Once a lawn was established earthworm Aporrectodea caliginosa was introduced into the pots. The control variant consisted of pots with no earthworms. Samples of soil for microbiological determinations were taken in April, July, September and November. The results obtained do not allow to unequivocally conclude regarding the effect of earthworms on soil microflora. In the initial period, a slight drop in the number of fungi, actinomycetes, nitrifying bacteria and denitrifying bacteria was observed (Fig. 3, 6, 7). The advantageous effect of earthworms was noticed, but in general in monospecies culture, in July for yeasts (Fig. 3), in September for moulds and actinomycetes (Fig. 4), and in November for bacteria, yeasts and actinomycetes (Fig. 5). Analysis of the results for the second factor indicated that the species diversity of grasses affects the population of soil microorganisms. This interaction was dependent on the presence of earthworms.