During this time, prairie soils have undergone major changes. Degradation of prairie soil occurs through erosion, loss of organic matter, salinization, and acidification. Soil erosion after cultivation has two causes, wind and water. In undisturbed ecosystems, the amount of carbon entering and leaving the soil is in balance. The type of cropping system also influences the rate of organic C and N loss.
Cultivation also changes the soil environment affecting the number and kinds of soil organisms.
Clearing forested or grassland areas for cultivation drastically alters the soil environment. Second, the number of species of higher plants is reduced. Monoculture or even common crop rotations provide a much narrower range of plant materials than forests and grasslands. Generally, agricultural practices such as monoculture and pesticide application also contribute to a general reduction of species diversity and total organism population. However, some agricultural practices positively effect soil microbiological activity.