One proposed method for recovering a Pb and Zn contaminated soil is to apply large quantities of organic matter in order to improve soil characteristics, which enhances biogeochemical nutrient cycles. We used beef manure compost applied at two different rates (44.8 and 268.8 Mg ha^-1) with and without lime and bentonite (added at a 5% rate of the compost) to investigate the effects on a number of soil biological properties. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) was seeded into plots to establish a vegetative cover. Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, vegetation was unable to be established in year 1. In the fall of year 1 annual rye grass was seeded into plots to serve as a protective winter cover, was sprayed with glyphosate in the spring of year 2, and switchgrass was reseeded. Compost additions drastically changed C, N, P, and K contents along with pH values and significantly reduced DGT available Cd and Zn. Enzyme activities and microbial biomass measurements were used to monitor nutrient cycles upon amendment addition. Experimental results indicate that after five months the high compost, high compost + lime, and high compost + lime + bentonite treatments had significantly higher arylsulfatase and phosphatase activities compared to all other treatments. The high compost treatment had a significantly higher β-glucosidase activity and also a higher microbial biomass C, while other measurements were more variable. Over the period of five months it appears that the high compost rate is supporting elevated biological activity as compared to the contaminated control. As time passes, it will be interesting to see if a single high rate of application can continue to re-establish and sustain a healthy soil microbial ecology and plant cover.