Spatial pattern of biological activity in degraded soils of northern Dagestan rangelands

The problem of soil biological activity parameters applicability to soil-cartographic and ecologic-geographical investigations is discussed. Soil biological activity (SBA) indices are helpful for characterizing soil spatial pattern, spatial dynamics of the soil cover in sites of pastoral digression. SBA parameters are the only and basic tools to evaluate initial stages of soil degradation when assessing the ecological status of pastoral ecosystems.