abstract

An enormous variety of microorganisms are supported by soil ecosystems, which are dynamic environments that aid in the decomposition of organic matter, the cycling of nutrients, and the stability of the ecosystem. However, contemporary agriculture's heavy and extended use of pesticides has left soils with persistent chemical residues, which may have disrupted functioning gene networks and microbial populations. Using a metagenomic technique, which allows for high-resolution characterisation of taxonomic and functional alterations at the genome level, this work examines the long-term consequences of pesticide residues on soil microbial diversity and functional genes. Functional gene analysis revealed that genes linked to denitrification and nitrification (amoA) were suppressed, whereas genes implicated in pesticide degradation pathways were enriched. The results underline the dangers to soil fertility, greenhouse gas emissions, and food security that come with long-term pesticide contamination.