Application of soil biological quality index to assess the sustainability of soil urban use classes: a case study

Soil biodiversity in urban contexts is less considered than in natural areas. In fact, urban soil is mainly perceived as a support that can host human activities while its functions are generally ignored. Urban soils are exposed to anthropogenic disturbance that can cause a reduction in the abundance and diversity of soil communities compared to natural ecosystems. Therefore, urban soil use and management have crucial importance in urban planning, in order to support a rich biodiversity pool for more sustainable cities. In this study, soil samples from four urban green types (urban parks, urban forest, roadside green, and arable land) were compared. The biodiversity of soil micro-arthropods communities was evaluated using Shannon-Weiner diversity index (H'); soil quality was estimated by the Acari/Collembola ratio (A/C) and the QBS-ar index. Results are discussed in order to evaluate the influence of urban soil use on soil biological quality and biodiversity.