SUMMARYData from field work and pot experiments gave insight into transformations occurring in soil microbial populations at opencast coal sites during the first year of land restoration. Total bacterial biomass increased markedly immediately following restoration, while pot experiments revealed that this flush was confined to soil stored below 1 m depth in stockpiles, where anaerobic conditions develop. Fungal and actinomycete propagules declined at the outset of restoration, but rallied during the first year, while the bacterial flush subsided. Fungal hyphae, which accounted for 50% of microbial biomass in surface mound and freshly restored soils, accounted for>99% one year after restoration. Experiments involving fertilizer and ryegrass amendments showed the biomass of restored soil to be limited by carbon, rather than nitrogen or phosphorus.