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Received: 2026/04/30 | Accepted: 2026/05/17
Received: 2026/04/30 | Accepted: 2026/05/17
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1- , p_alamdari@znu.ac.ir
Abstract (204 Views)
Aims & Backgrounds: Today, one of the most effective tools for assessing sustainable soil management is soil quality assessment. Therefore, soil quality assessment and monitoring can provide a relatively comprehensive understanding of the complex environmental conditions of soil.This study aimed to quantitatively evaluate soil quality in the Chaharborj region of West Azerbaijan in two agricultural and horticultural uses.
Methodology: Composite sampling was carried out at 0-30 and 30-60 cm depth at 18 stations and physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil were measured. Using principal component analysis (PCA), a minimum data set (MDS) was identified including electrical conductivity, soil microbial respiration, total nitrogen, bulk density and absorbable potassium. Soil quality index (SQI) was calculated using two linear (SQI-1) and nonlinear (SQI-2) scoring methods.
Findings: The results showed that agricultural soils had significantly higher salinity (6.93 vs. 2.34 dS/m), sodicity (15.73 vs. 3.77%), and density (1.63 vs. 1.28 g/cm³) than garden soils. In contrast, biological activity (microbial respiration and microbial biomass carbon) and total nitrogen were significantly higher in garden land use. The mean soil quality index in garden land use was 0.457 for the linear method and 0.576 for the nonlinear method, and in agricultural land use it was 0.321 and 0.384, respectively, with a significant difference in both methods (p<0.001). The nonlinear method had higher resolution.
Conclusion: The study confirmed that unsustainable management is the most important factor in reducing soil quality in agricultural use, and switching to horticultural systems can be an effective solution for soil restoration.
Methodology: Composite sampling was carried out at 0-30 and 30-60 cm depth at 18 stations and physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil were measured. Using principal component analysis (PCA), a minimum data set (MDS) was identified including electrical conductivity, soil microbial respiration, total nitrogen, bulk density and absorbable potassium. Soil quality index (SQI) was calculated using two linear (SQI-1) and nonlinear (SQI-2) scoring methods.
Findings: The results showed that agricultural soils had significantly higher salinity (6.93 vs. 2.34 dS/m), sodicity (15.73 vs. 3.77%), and density (1.63 vs. 1.28 g/cm³) than garden soils. In contrast, biological activity (microbial respiration and microbial biomass carbon) and total nitrogen were significantly higher in garden land use. The mean soil quality index in garden land use was 0.457 for the linear method and 0.576 for the nonlinear method, and in agricultural land use it was 0.321 and 0.384, respectively, with a significant difference in both methods (p<0.001). The nonlinear method had higher resolution.
Conclusion: The study confirmed that unsustainable management is the most important factor in reducing soil quality in agricultural use, and switching to horticultural systems can be an effective solution for soil restoration.
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