For the first time, the determination of biological activity parameters found in the upper horizon (0–20 cm) of the mountain gray forest soil succeeded at the agrocenosis and natural biogeocenosis of the Sheki-Zagatala Economic Region, Azerbaijan. The use of integrated indicators of the ecological and biological state of soils (IIEBSS) summarized the variations in biological activities (humus content and reserves, microbial biomass carbon content and reserves, activity of hydrolase, and oxidoreductase enzymes) of the arable soils. A 45% IIEBSS decrease was evident in the cultivated soils due to soil degradation processes leading to a disruption of their ecological functions and a decline in their fertility. The pioneering study made a comparative assessment of the variations caused by the biological activity in the upper horizon of mountain gray forest soils’ biogeocenosis in the southern macroslope of the Greater Caucasus. Studies on soil biological indicators are few, and this research is vital to develop and boost ecotourism.
Soil biological activities, soil degradation, soil fertility, mountain gray forest soils, Greater Caucasus, Sheki-Zagatala Economic Region, soil use for agriculture
The progressive study predominantly depended on the effective use of forest soils with decisive importance. The study revealed soil stability was low in cultivated cenoses under long-term anthropogenic