The impact of vehicular pollution on soil health in the forest ecosystem of Sonamarg Kashmir Himalayas
Abstract This study was taken to evaluate the influence of vehicular pollution on the accumulation of heavy metals and its impact on soil enzymatic activity along the roadside of the Sonamarg forest ecosystem. Soil samples were obtained from three different sites viz., Sonamarg, Baltal, and Thajwas,...
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| Format: | Article |
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Springer
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Discover Environment |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44274-025-00184-z |
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| author | Tariq A. Bhat Shafat A. Mir Manzoor R. Khan Javeed I. A. Bhat Ishrat Bashir Bilal A. Beigh Humayun Azad |
| author_facet | Tariq A. Bhat Shafat A. Mir Manzoor R. Khan Javeed I. A. Bhat Ishrat Bashir Bilal A. Beigh Humayun Azad |
| author_sort | Tariq A. Bhat |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract This study was taken to evaluate the influence of vehicular pollution on the accumulation of heavy metals and its impact on soil enzymatic activity along the roadside of the Sonamarg forest ecosystem. Soil samples were obtained from three different sites viz., Sonamarg, Baltal, and Thajwas, each comprises of disturbed area (10 mts.) close to roadside and undisturbed area (150 mts.) away from roadside in two seasons (spring and autumn). Soil heavy metal concentration significantly decreased with distance from the roadside. The decrease in the activities of dehydrogenase and urease and soil organic carbon were found in the disturbed area as compared to undisturbed areas. The concentration of zinc (Zn2+) was found to be maximum, followed by nickel (Ni2+), lead (Pb2+), copper (Cu2+), and cadmium (Cd2+) at all the sampling sites. Significant positive correlations were shown by pH with Pb (r = 0.782**), Zn (r = 0.805**), Cu (r = 0.773**), Cd (r = 0.672**) and negative correlations with dehydrogenase activity (r = −0.795**), urease activity (r = −0.825**) and organic carbon (r = −0.764**). Similarly Pb, showed negative correlation with dehydrogenase activity (r = −0.671**,), urease activity (r = −0.673**) and organic carbon (r = −0.860**). A negative correlation was found between Zn and organic carbon (r = −0.821**) as well as between Cu, urease activity (r = −0.632**) and organic carbon (r = −0.757**). The results indicate that vehicular pollution affects the soil quality due to heavy metal contamination in the fragile Sonamarg forest ecosystem. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8bb2727c179344348e5ee405b25fefa9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2731-9431 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Discover Environment |
| spelling | doaj-art-8bb2727c179344348e5ee405b25fefa92025-01-19T12:16:34ZengSpringerDiscover Environment2731-94312025-01-013111010.1007/s44274-025-00184-zThe impact of vehicular pollution on soil health in the forest ecosystem of Sonamarg Kashmir HimalayasTariq A. Bhat0Shafat A. Mir1Manzoor R. Khan2Javeed I. A. Bhat3Ishrat Bashir4Bilal A. Beigh5Humayun Azad6Division of Environmental Sciences, Sher-E-Kashmir University of Agriculture Science and Technology (SKUAST-K)Division of Environmental Sciences, Sher-E-Kashmir University of Agriculture Science and Technology (SKUAST-K)Department of Botany, Govt. Degree College KupwaraDivision of Environmental Sciences, Sher-E-Kashmir University of Agriculture Science and Technology (SKUAST-K)Division of Environmental Sciences, Sher-E-Kashmir University of Agriculture Science and Technology (SKUAST-K)Department of Environmental Sciences, Government Degree College ChadooraDivision of Environmental Sciences, Sher-E-Kashmir University of Agriculture Science and Technology (SKUAST-K)Abstract This study was taken to evaluate the influence of vehicular pollution on the accumulation of heavy metals and its impact on soil enzymatic activity along the roadside of the Sonamarg forest ecosystem. Soil samples were obtained from three different sites viz., Sonamarg, Baltal, and Thajwas, each comprises of disturbed area (10 mts.) close to roadside and undisturbed area (150 mts.) away from roadside in two seasons (spring and autumn). Soil heavy metal concentration significantly decreased with distance from the roadside. The decrease in the activities of dehydrogenase and urease and soil organic carbon were found in the disturbed area as compared to undisturbed areas. The concentration of zinc (Zn2+) was found to be maximum, followed by nickel (Ni2+), lead (Pb2+), copper (Cu2+), and cadmium (Cd2+) at all the sampling sites. Significant positive correlations were shown by pH with Pb (r = 0.782**), Zn (r = 0.805**), Cu (r = 0.773**), Cd (r = 0.672**) and negative correlations with dehydrogenase activity (r = −0.795**), urease activity (r = −0.825**) and organic carbon (r = −0.764**). Similarly Pb, showed negative correlation with dehydrogenase activity (r = −0.671**,), urease activity (r = −0.673**) and organic carbon (r = −0.860**). A negative correlation was found between Zn and organic carbon (r = −0.821**) as well as between Cu, urease activity (r = −0.632**) and organic carbon (r = −0.757**). The results indicate that vehicular pollution affects the soil quality due to heavy metal contamination in the fragile Sonamarg forest ecosystem.https://doi.org/10.1007/s44274-025-00184-zForest areaHeavy metalsSoil enzymesVehicular traffic |
| spellingShingle | Tariq A. Bhat Shafat A. Mir Manzoor R. Khan Javeed I. A. Bhat Ishrat Bashir Bilal A. Beigh Humayun Azad The impact of vehicular pollution on soil health in the forest ecosystem of Sonamarg Kashmir Himalayas Discover Environment Forest area Heavy metals Soil enzymes Vehicular traffic |
| title | The impact of vehicular pollution on soil health in the forest ecosystem of Sonamarg Kashmir Himalayas |
| title_full | The impact of vehicular pollution on soil health in the forest ecosystem of Sonamarg Kashmir Himalayas |
| title_fullStr | The impact of vehicular pollution on soil health in the forest ecosystem of Sonamarg Kashmir Himalayas |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of vehicular pollution on soil health in the forest ecosystem of Sonamarg Kashmir Himalayas |
| title_short | The impact of vehicular pollution on soil health in the forest ecosystem of Sonamarg Kashmir Himalayas |
| title_sort | impact of vehicular pollution on soil health in the forest ecosystem of sonamarg kashmir himalayas |
| topic | Forest area Heavy metals Soil enzymes Vehicular traffic |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44274-025-00184-z |
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