Evaluation of Soil Quality and Spatial Characteristics of Urban Garden Green Spaces in Jiaozhou City

¹ Shandong Agricultural University, College of Resources and Environment, Taishan, Taian, Shandong, China
² Yantai Jinshan Heavy Machinery Equipment Co., Ltd, Fushan, Yantai, Shandong, China
³ Feicheng Agriculture and Rural Bureau, Feicheng, Taian, Shandong, China

^* Corresponding author: mxgao@sdau.edu.cn
^† These authors contributed equally to this work.

Abstract

Taking the urban garden green spaces(Uggs) in Jiaozhou City as the research object, a soil quality evaluation index system for Uggs was established. The improved Nemerow index method was used to evaluate the soil quality of the total Uggs(TG) and its 4 types(street green space, SG; road green space, RG; comprehensive park, CP; linear park, LP), including entire profile (0-60cm) and layered (0-20, 20-40, 40-60cm). GIS was used to analyze the spatial distribution of soil quality at different layers. The results show that the overall soil quality of Uggs in Jiaozhou City is at a medium to low level. From the perspective of the entire profile, the comprehensive index of soil quality (Pijk) of the total and 4 types of Uggs are 1.10 (TG), 1.06 (CP), 1.04 (SG), 1.05 (LP), and 1.16 (RG), all of which are between 1.0-1.5 and belong to grade III. From a layered perspective, the Pijk of the total and 4 types of Uggs of surface layer are 1.20 (TG), 1.20 (CP), 1.17 (SG), 1.12 (LP), and 1.25 (RG), all of which are at grade III. The Pijk of middle layer are 0.93 (TG), 0.86 (CP), 0.91 (SG), 0.92 (LP), and 0.96 (RG), and the Pijk of bottom layer are 0.89 (TG), 0.84 (CP), 0.88 (SG), 0.83 (LP), and 0.97 (RG); All of which are below 1.00, and at grade IV. In terms of classification, the soil quality of all 3 layers of RG is the highest, but there is no specific pattern in the Pijk of CP, SR, and LP. The soil quality gradually deteriorates from the surface layer downwards. From the perspective of spatial distribution, the soil quality generally follows a pattern of high in the north and west, and low in the south and east, reflecting the outcomes of both natural and anthropogenic influences. The research results can provide scientific basis for soil and Uggs management in Jiaozhou City.