Natalia Rudolfovna Emer

The paper presents a comparative analysis of the structural and functional characteristics of the microbial communities of the gray forest soil of fallow and intensively cultivated areas. Long-term anthropogenic impact with massive annual mineral fertilization when growing a monoculture of potatoes has led to the 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 the “health” of the soil.