Abstract

Soil microbial communities are pivotal in driving ecosystem processes such as nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration, which are central to soil health. Metagenomics provides a robust tool to explore the functional potential of these communities by analyzing their genetic diversity. This study investigates how microbial functional profiles vary across soil health gradients, defined by organic matter content, pH, and agricultural management practices. Through high-throughput sequencing, we identified key microbial genes involved in biogeochemical cycles and their responses to soil health variations. Results show that healthier soils harbor greater functional diversity, with significant implications for sustainable agriculture. This article highlights the role of metagenomics in informing soil management strategies.