Аннотация:The development of methods for exclusion or reduction of the abundance of the target group in a field experiment is one of the important methodological tasks in studying the interactions of soil fungi and invertebrates. The possibility of using cypermethrin in order to reduce the abundance of invertebrates during the research of interaction with mycorrhizal fungi was studied in two model coniferous forests (in the reserves “Kivach” and the Central Forest State Reserve). A short-term (30 days) experiment showed a significant decrease in the abundance of soil invertebrates and no differences in the mycelium biomass of mycorrhizal fungi. In a longer experiment (90 days), the effect of soil defaunation was similar, but the production of mycelium of mycorrhizal fungi decreased compared to the control. The method of soil defaunation with cypermethrin is effective, but can be recommended for use only in short-term field experiments.