Group

Indicator

Unit

Organic ± SE

Conventional ± SE

Microbial indicators

β-glucosidase

µg pNP released g/soil/h

548

±

48.5

a

345

±

34.5

b

Fluorescein diacetate

mg hydrolysed FDA/kg soil/hr

1.31

±

0.1

a

0.85

±

0

b

Nematode indicators

Bacterial feeding

%

32

±

1.6

a

17

±

1.3

b

Bacterivore: fungivore ratio

0.71

±

0

0.83

±

0

Channel index (CI)

24

±

1.5

19

±

1.1

Diversity index (H)

2.05

±

0

a

1.47

±

0.1

b

Endophytes

%

27

±

3.8

28

±

4.3

Enrichment index (EI)

74

±

1

74

±

1.1

Fungal feeding

%

14

±

1.5

a

3

±

0.2

b

Plant parasites

%

31

±

2.2

b

70

±

2.1

a

Predatory and omnivorous

%

20

±

1.3

a

10

±

1.2

b

Structure index (SI)

68

±

1.8

69

±

1.6

Disease indicators

Fusarium plates

AUC

8.2

±

0.4

11.5

±

0.3

Tomato trials

AUC

16.2

±

0.8

b

19.6

±

1.0

a