Soil microbial biomass, functional microbial diversity, and nematode community structure as affected by cover crops and compost in an organic vegetable production system

► Cover crops and compost affect soil microbial biomass and functional diversity. ► Rye-vetch mixture significantly increased soil respiration and microbial biomass. ► Nematode population differences leveled off by the end of the final growing season. ► Compost application increased microbial biomass and functional microbial diversity. ► Compost influenced treatment separation in principal component analysis.