Soil Quality Variations Across Different Land Use Patterns in Central Doon Valley of Dehradun, India:  A Comparative Study

Vishal Kamboj; Kajal Katoch; Ram Bhushan Prasad Singh; Aditi Bisht

doi:10.59983/s2024020402

Vishal Kamboj ¹ , Kajal Katoch ² , Ram Bhushan Prasad Singh ³ , Aditi Bisht ⁴

¹ Department of Environmental Science. BFIT Group of Institution, Suddhowala, Dehradun 248007, India https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7293-8327
² Department of Environmental Science. BFIT Group of Institution, Suddhowala, Dehradun 248007, India
³ Department of Environmental Science. BFIT Group of Institution, Suddhowala, Dehradun 248007, India
⁴ Department of Zoology and Environmental Science, Gurukula Kangri (Deemed to be University), Haridwar 249404, India https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6807-014X

✉ Author responsible for correspondence: This information is protected, please see article PDF.

doi 10.59983/s2024020402

Abstract

Soil is the most basic and yet most complex component of terrestrial ecosystems. It regulates most of the ecosystem processes and provides a large part of the earth’s biodiversity for the physical basis for many human activities. The major objectives of this study are to examine the physio-chemical characteristics of soil in both disturbed and undisturbed areas of Dehradun and to analyze soil pollution indices related to heavy metals in these areas. The study was conducted in the Suddhowala and Selaqui areas of Jhajra Forest Range, Dehradun, India. The soil samples were collected from six different land use patterns of SS1-SS6 from March to May (2024). The Physical parameters such as Moisture Content, Water Holding Capacity, and Electrical Conductivity, and the chemical parameters such as pH, Total Nitrogen, Organic Carbon, Organic Matter, Phosphorus, Potassium, and Sulphur were analyzed and the heavy metals such as Zinc, Boron, Copper, Manganese and Iron were measured. The geo-accumulation index (Igeo), enrichment factor (EF), degree of contamination (CD), and pollution load index (PLI) were studied. The study finds gaps in how micronutrient status is evaluated to meet the soil needs.

Keywords:

barren land, Doon valley , forest area, soil quality

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