Elemental Composition of Soils in Urban Park: Strategy for Conservation and Management

Urban parks represent complex ecological framework often altered from its natural state by urbanization and land cover change. Development of viable management strategies requires analysis of existing state of soils, including their chemical composition that can demonstrate changes in levels of various elements that might affect (negatively or positively) ecological conditions in the park. However, standard chemical lab analysis of soils can be prohibitively expensive and lengthy, especially for multiple elements.

One of the most effective, economical and speedy techniques to identify elemental composition of soils is X-ray fluorometry (XRF). In presented study of Van Cortland Park (New York City, The Bronx) we used portable XRF (pXRF) analyzer calibrated for major elements: Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, K, Ca, Ba, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn. Samples for pXRF analysis were collected from top five inches of soil from 60 quadrate plots. Using statistical methods (histograms, correlation matrices, principal component analysis and Support Vector Machine analysis) and existing available data on natural variations of elements in soils we were able to characterize elemental composition of soils and suggest future management strategies. Data of this caliber can assist land management in understanding the soil composition, leading to better practices in restoration and enhancement efforts.