Abstract
Composition and vertical distribution of soil nematode communities within soil profile were investigated in eight hop gardens in Czech Republic. In total, the presence of 78 nematode genera was confirmed. Genus Drilocephalobus (Coomans & Coomans, 1990) is new for fauna of the Czech Republic. The highest abundance of soil nematodes was found at a depth of 0–10 cm and declined with increasing depth of soil profile. The most dominant genus was Bitylenchus, followed by genera Acrobeloides, Ditylenchus, Chiloplacus and Cervidelus. Ten genera of plant parasitic nematodes were recorded: Bitylenchus (with prevalence of B. dubius), Helicotylenchus, Heterodera (with absolute prevalence of H. humuli), Geocenamus, Longidorella, Longidorus (only L. elongatus), Merlinius (with prevalence of M. brevidens), Paratylenchus and Pratylenchus. Low population densities of predators and omnivores, low values of the community indices (MI, ΣMI, SI, and CI), and high values of NCR, EI, and PPI/MI ratio indicated disturbed nematode communities in hop gardens and bacteria-dominated decomposition pathways in the soil food web.