Citation :

Prasad Pujar, Sowmya N J, Sandeep J Nayak, "Effects of Level-III Land Use/Land Cover on Spatial Distribution of Soil Chemical Properties and Soil Quality Index in a High-Rainfall Area in the Western Ghats, India," International Journal of Civil Engineering, vol. 13, no. 4, pp. 155-165, 2026. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23488352/IJCE-V13I4P118

Abstract

In humid tropical areas, the chemical properties of the soil depend much on the rainfall, changes in the land’s shape, and biogeochemical processes. The current study represents the influence of Level-III Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) classes on the spatial variability of significant soil chemical properties in Puttur Taluk, situated on the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats in Karnataka, India. A total of 145 georeferenced soil samples (0-20 cm depth) were obtained from agricultural lands, forested regions, plantations, and habitation regions. The soil samples were analyzed for pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Organic Carbon (OC), Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), and Sulphur (S) contents. The spatial variability of soil chemical properties was presented using the Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) interpolation technique in a GIS environment. Analysed data reveals that the soils are typically acidic in nature, with pH values ranging from 4.66 to 6.82. Even though there are some areas of high salinity, particularly in some of the plantation areas and settlements, the EC levels indicate that the soils are non-saline in general. The analysis of macronutrients depicted that there was a lot of variation in the macronutrient analysis results, which could be explained by both the inherent characteristics of the soil and variations in land use practices. Organic carbon and nitrogen levels were higher in mixed vegetation areas and forested areas and lower in agricultural and plantation areas. The Soil Quality Index (SQI) was determined using organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and sulphur, which showed that most of the villages had moderate fertility, according to the SQI values: 1.6-2.5. These soils are considered useful for agricultural purposes, provided there is balanced nutrient management, with special emphasis on phosphorus and potassium nutrition. The distribution of nutrients was balanced, and the soil pH was favorable in areas with high SQI values, including Bellipadi, Puttur, Kabaka, Kudippadi, and the surrounding forested areas. Lower SQI values appeared in areas such as parts of Munduru, Kuriya, and nearby degraded forest regions. This suggests a need for nutrient management and soil restoration. The results essentially emphasize the need for assessing soil fertility at the village level and the requirement for site-specific soil management practices for sustainable soil health in the Puttur taluk region.

Keywords

Western Ghats, Soil Quality Index (SQI), Soil Chemical Properties, Land Use/Land Cover.

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