Urban Soils and Their Management: A Multidisciplinary Approach

Urbanization is currently expanding worldwide and causing land degradation. As the world population continues to increase, there is a growing challenge for food production to meet people’s dietary needs. The current agriculture technologies have increased crop production, but they also have endangered the agricultural ecosystem. The excessive use of synthetic chemicals, intensive agricultural practices, and heavy machinery has disturbed the physical, biochemical, and ecological balance of the soil. The sustainable and efficient management of soil has the potential to enhance crop productivity, restore soil fertility, and conservation of flora and fauna for future generations. In urban spaces, green spaces are the source of recreation and soil conservation. Therefore, effective planning and the use of the Global Information System (GIS) in urban green spaces management may avoid soil degradation and environmental pollution. In cities, efficient use of green spaces helps in maintaining the microclimate and species conservation. The sustainable agroecosystems (zero tillage, crop rotations, and cover crops) and agricultural conservation techniques (conservation tillage, contour farming, strip cropping, and buffer strips) improve soil fertility, organic matter (OM), water holding capacity, water infiltration, soil organic matter, and soil biological properties. Further, the application of compost, manuring, vermicomposting, and soil enzymes enhances soil physical and biochemical properties of soil such as nutrient uptake, pore size, cation exchange capacity, biological activity and reduces surface runoff that ultimately controls soil erosion and soil degradation.