By decomposing organic matter, bacterial communities are essential for plant growth and ecosystem functioning. Conversely, plants select for particular bacterial communities by depositing C resources belowground. These substrates are utilised by bacteria, which consequently drives soil C cycling. However, the exact mechanisms of this intimate relationship remain unclear. This book examines the effects of vegetation on bacterial community structure and whether plant driven differences in bacterial community composition affect C cycling in a grassland soil at the NERC ...