The root system of recultivated grassland stands reacted to the influence of cutting and fertilization much more sensitively (in a negative sense) than that of natural grassland stands. In natural grassland stands average L/D root ratio values were c2.0 and higher in almost all soil layers. The lowest L/D root ratio (0.85 on average) was recorded in the 0-50mm soil layer of fertilized recultivated stands. In natural stands cutting and fertilization (up to 100kg.ha-1 N) resulted in an increase amount of living root biomass (1.1-1.5kg.m- 2) in the upper 0-50mm soil layer. In recultivated stands cutting and fertilization decreased the amount of living root biomass in whole soil profile. Natural cut and fertilized stands had a lower amount of carbohydrates in underground biomass (231-268g.m-2) than the natural untreated stand (356g.m-2) and recultivated stands (330-381g.m-2). -Authors