A comparison of a low-input farming system (integrated) with a “conventional” one was initiated in 1978 at the estate of Lautenbach, F.R.G. This paper describes the effects of both farming systems on some components of the soil fauna. The results indicate a significant influence of the farming system on the indicator groups monitored. Lumbricidae, mainly Lumbricus terrestris L., are most prevalent on the integrated fields. Both numbers and biomass of earthworms are up to six-fold higher than in the conventionally treated field sections. This is true of predatory mites (Gamasina, Mesostigmata). More gamasid mites of higher species diversity are extracted from the integrated farmed plots. Nematode populations show a wide range of variations from field to field. Significant differences however, occur among the herbivores, the saprophytic (including bacteriovores and mycovores) and predatory nematodes (Monochidae). The population density of the plant parasitic species Heterodera avenae (Wollweber) and Ditylenchus dipsaci (Filipjev), is mostly lower in the integrated system, whereas that of the saprophytic and predatory nematodes is higher.