Soil «health» Indicators in Soil Assessment (Review)

Abstract

The possibility of using microbiological indicators of soil «health» to assess the soils. Th e fundamental possibility of quantitative characterization of the functional potential of the microbial system with the assessment of «ecological services» is shown. Thermodynamic criteria of natural microbial system (exergy and specific exergy) allow to carry out diagnostics of soil condition with direct estimation of degradation and damage. System characteristics of soil microbiota allow to approach the solution of many topical problems of functional soil science.