Soil scalping and soil microbial filtrates effects on the restoration of temperate grasslands

Recent research has shown that plant–soil–microbial interactions play an important role in determining plant community composition. The restoration of former farmlands (old‐fields) to temperate grasslands dominated by native perennial graminoids is often challenging due to great extent to the soil legacies caused by farming, grazing, and the dominance of invasive species. However, little is known about the effect of restoration techniques on the soil microbial communities and how microbes could affect the establishment of native species. We conducted a glasshouse experiment using intact core soil samples from old‐fields that were subject, or not, to soil scalping and that received soil microbial filtrates from different soil origins. We assessed the effects of combining these techniques on the microbial community and the growth of the native Wallaby grass ( Rytidosperma auriculatum ). Soil scalping notably modified edaphic properties, plant biomass, and soil microbial communities. The inoculation of soil microbial filtrates from remnant grasslands in combination with soil scalping produced the highest Wallaby grass biomass. Despite the lack of significant effects of soil microbial filtrates on edaphic properties and microbial communities, we observed subtle differences in the composition of fungal communities that could be linked to the growth of Wallaby grass. Our results indicate that soil microbial filtrates can increase biomass production of native grasses if techniques like removing the topsoil address soil legacies first. This study increases our understanding of the factors driving vegetation succession and represents an opportunity to improve restoration techniques.