Spatial variability in soil physicochemical parameters across land use classes in the peri-urban landscape

Rising population and urban expansion have ushered drastic transformations in land use patterns, which can considerably affect soil components and processes. Peri-urban regions at the rural-urban interface are of specific concern because of their dynamic and complex land use pattern. Here, we investigated the spatial variability in soil physicochemical parameters of the surface soil (0-30 cm) in peri-urban landscape of Ghaziabad district, located in the upper Gangetic plain of Uttar Pradesh, India. A total of 45 sites belonging to five different land use classes namely agriculture, park, residential, industrial and bare land were sampled from December 2019 to January 2020. Descriptive analysis of data showed wide variability in the soil properties, with chemical properties being more variable than physical properties. We observed significant differences in soil properties across land use types and their heterogeneous distribution across the three sites. Industrial land use with low vegetation cover was distinctly differentiated from other anthropogenic land use and land cover by high bulk density. Residential land use with high nutrient input from domestic waste and physical disturbance from construction activities was separated from other overlapping land use types by high water-holding capacity and calcium (Ca) concentration. Overall, the results of the study suggest that multifaceted anthropogenic disturbances including modification of parent material, extensive fertilization and irrigation, transportation and waste dumping entail significant changes in soil characteristics and may have serious implications on soil structure and function. Such regional and local studies would help in developing scientifically informed practical measures to improve and maintain the soil quality. Hence, further detailed research exploring the impact of anthropogenic land uses on soil characteristics is needed for management and preservation of the soil mantle.