Analysis of the State of the Soil Microbial System under Prolonged Anthropogenic Load

Abstract

The paper presents a comparative analysis of the structural and functional characteristics of microbial communities of gray forest soil of fallow and intensively cultivated areas. The long-term anthropogenic impact with massive annual mineral fertilization when growing a monoculture of potatoes has led to degradation of the soil microbial system. A catastrophic decrease in the functional potential of the microbial system (environmental services) is shown using eco-exergy as a thermodynamic indicator of soil “health”.