We investigated the effects of soil management on plant diversity, vegetation cover, soil parameters, bacterial and fungal diversity, and soil functions (soil respiration and decomposition of two different substrates) using a balanced experimental design covering nine vineyards in Rhine-Hesse, Germany. In all vineyards, we applied four soil management types: complete cover, herbal seed mixture cover, alternating tillage, and complete tillage. Plots were installed in 2015. Data acquisition was done in 2016 and 2017, except for soil respiration, which was only measured in 2016.Plant diversity and vegetation cover were assessed in the field. Soil parameters (C and N, pH, P, K, Mg, Cu) were measured using standard methods. Soil bacterial and fungal diversity was assessed using DNA extraction and Illumina sequencing. The Shannon Diversity Index based on bacterial and fungal OTUs was used as a metric for diversity. Basal soil respiration rate was measured by oxygen consumption using a customized respirometer in the lab. Litter decomposition was measured in the field over a period of 90 days by using the Tea Bag Index method, which applies standardized tea types as organic material.