Ecological Assessment of Polluted Soils: Linking Ecological Risks, Soil Quality, and Biota Diversity in Contaminated Soils

Ghada El-Sharkawy, Modhi O. Alotaibi (), Raghda Zuhair, Esawy Mahmoud, Ahmed El Baroudy, Alaa El-Dein Omara and Mahmoud El-Sharkawy ()
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Ghada El-Sharkawy: Soil and Water Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt
Modhi O. Alotaibi: Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
Raghda Zuhair: Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta 31111, Egypt
Esawy Mahmoud: Soil and Water Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt
Ahmed El Baroudy: Soil and Water Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt
Alaa El-Dein Omara: Soil Microbiology Research Department, Soils, Water, and Environment Research Institute (SWERI), Agriculture Research Center (ARC), Giza 12112, Egypt
Mahmoud El-Sharkawy: Soil and Water Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 4, 1-29

Abstract: Understanding the correlation between soil pollution, environmental indices, humic substances, and soil biota diversity is critical for assessing ecological health, particularly in areas with prolonged contamination. In this study, 90 soil samples were collected from ten locations in El-Mahla El-Kobra area, Egypt, affected by industrial pollution and unsustainable agricultural practices. Significant variations in organic matter, humic substances, microbial biomass carbon, and microbial populations were observed. Heavy metal contamination was highest in site S3, with a contamination degree (CD) of 29.45 and a pollution load index (PLI) of 1.67. Self-organizing maps showed the possible need for targeted remediation to mitigate ecological risk. Biodiversity analysis identified Oribatida as the dominant species, with shifts in diversity indices indicating species adaptation to pollution levels. Positive correlations between soil contamination (CD, PLI) and both Shannon–Wiener and Simpson indices, alongside negative correlations between MCD, PLI, and the Berger–Parker dominance index, suggest a complex shift toward species dominance in polluted environments. The findings highlight the complex interplay between soil contamination and biodiversity, offering critical insights for ecological risk assessment and sustainable soil management in contaminated regions.

Keywords: biodiversity indices; environmental indices; humic substances; heavy metals risks; soil pollution; soil organisms (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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