Agricultural intensification that results in conversion of forests into crop fields affects soil biodiversity including nematodes which contribute to ecosystem services and play a key role in maintenance of soil health. The nematode soil food web and metabolic footprints of a tropical forest and surrounding tea fields in Embu, Kenya were investigated. Soil samples were collected from tea fields and forest and the nematodes were identified to the genus level. The plant-parasitic index in the tea fields was high and the abundance of nematodes in cp2 class and Ba₂ functional guild were greater than those in the forest. Helicotylenchus, Rotylenchus, Telotylenchus and Malenchus occurred in higher densities in the forest which also had a significantly high predator footprint. The pH, Mn, sand, clay and silt content varied across the forest and tea fields. Nematode communities in the two land use systems were distinct based on non-metric multi-dimensional scaling ordinations. Heterocephalobus which was positively correlated to pH and Helicotylenchus, Telotylenchus, Iotonchus and Rotylenchus which had a negative association with silt contributed to the dissimilarity observed in the forest and tea fields. The findings provide an insight into the effects of land use change on nematode communities in the two systems. This study will provide baseline data that can be used to make informed decisions on tea production and land use strategies that enhance soil health.

农业集约化导致森林转变为农田，这影响了包括线虫在内的土壤生物多样性，这些线虫有助于生态系统服务，并在维护土壤健康中发挥关键作用。调查了肯尼亚恩布的热带森林和周围茶园的线虫土壤食物网和代谢足迹。从茶田和森林中收集土壤样品，并鉴定线虫至属水平。茶园的植物寄生指数较高，cp2类和Ba ₂功能公会中的线虫数量比森林中的多。螺旋藻，轮虫，线虫和雄性发生在森林中密度较高的地方，森林中的捕食者足迹也很高。在森林和茶园中，pH，Mn，沙子，粘土和淤泥的含量各不相同。根据非度量的多维尺度定标，两个土地利用系统中的线虫群落是不同的。Heterocephalobus其呈正至pH和相关螺旋线虫，Telotylenchus，Iotonchus和盘旋与淤泥的负相关性加剧了在森林和茶田中观察到的差异。这些发现提供了对两种系统中土地利用变化对线虫群落影响的见解。这项研究将提供基准数据，可用于就提高土壤健康的茶产量和土地利用策略做出明智的决策。