Spatial assessment of soil quality under different land use and land cover patterns in a micro-catchment of the Central Black Sea Region, Türkiye

Sena Pacci; Sıla Tosun; Bedirhan Ertosun; Furkan Bekar; Orhan Dengiz

doi:10.18393/ejss.1924804

Spatial assessment of soil quality under different land use and land cover patterns in a micro-catchment of the Central Black Sea Region, Türkiye

Abstract

Soil quality is a key indicator of sustainable land management because it reflects the capacity of soil to perform essential physical, chemical, and biological functions. This study aimed to evaluate the spatial variability of soil quality under different land use and land cover types within a micro-catchment located in Bafra District, Samsun Province, in the Central Black Sea Region of Türkiye. The study area includes forest, pasture, hazelnut orchards, and cultivated agricultural lands under semi-humid ecological conditions. A total of 27 soil indicators representing physical, chemical, biological, and fertility-related properties were used to assess soil quality. Surface soil samples (0–30 cm) were collected from 62 sampling points distributed across the study area. Soil quality indicators were grouped under four main criteria and weighted using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Linear and non-linear Standard Scoring Functions (SSF) were then applied to normalize the indicator values and calculate linear and non-linear soil quality indices (L-SQI and NL-SQI). Spatial distribution maps of both indices were produced in a GIS environment using geostatistical interpolation methods. The results showed that the spatial patterns of L-SQI and NL-SQI were highly similar across the study area. Low soil quality values were mainly concentrated in the eastern parts of the micro-catchment, whereas relatively higher soil quality values were observed in the northern and southern parts. Forested areas generally exhibited higher soil quality, while hazelnut-dominated areas were associated with relatively lower soil quality values. The findings demonstrate that integrating AHP, SSF, geostatistics, and GIS provides an effective framework for evaluating and mapping soil quality under different land use systems and can support sustainable land management decisions in regions with similar ecological conditions.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of Ondokuz Mayıs University

Project Number

BAP11-2025-5606

Thanks

This study was supported by the Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of Ondokuz Mayıs University under project number BAP11-2025-5606. The authors gratefully acknowledge this financial support. The authors also sincerely thank the anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments and valuable suggestions, which helped improve the quality and clarity of the manuscript.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Soil Sciences and Plant Nutrition (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Sena Pacci
0000-0001-6661-4927
Türkiye

Sıla Tosun This is me
0009-0008-9617-6516
Türkiye

Bedirhan Ertosun This is me
0009-0002-5018-4752
Türkiye

Furkan Bekar This is me
0009-0005-4428-0432
Türkiye

Orhan Dengiz ^*
0000-0002-0458-6016
Türkiye

Publication Date

June 30, 2026

Submission Date

December 8, 2025

Acceptance Date

April 3, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 15 Number: 3

DOI

https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.1924804

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA39UJ27UU

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Pacci, S., Tosun, S., Ertosun, B., Bekar, F., & Dengiz, O. (2026). Spatial assessment of soil quality under different land use and land cover patterns in a micro-catchment of the Central Black Sea Region, Türkiye. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science, 15(3), 363-374. https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.1924804

AMA

1.Pacci S, Tosun S, Ertosun B, Bekar F, Dengiz O. Spatial assessment of soil quality under different land use and land cover patterns in a micro-catchment of the Central Black Sea Region, Türkiye. EJSS. 2026;15(3):363-374. doi:10.18393/ejss.1924804

Chicago

Pacci, Sena, Sıla Tosun, Bedirhan Ertosun, Furkan Bekar, and Orhan Dengiz. 2026. “Spatial Assessment of Soil Quality under Different Land Use and Land Cover Patterns in a Micro-Catchment of the Central Black Sea Region, Türkiye”. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science 15 (3): 363-74. https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.1924804.

EndNote

Pacci S, Tosun S, Ertosun B, Bekar F, Dengiz O (June 1, 2026) Spatial assessment of soil quality under different land use and land cover patterns in a micro-catchment of the Central Black Sea Region, Türkiye. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science 15 3 363–374.

IEEE

[1]S. Pacci, S. Tosun, B. Ertosun, F. Bekar, and O. Dengiz, “Spatial assessment of soil quality under different land use and land cover patterns in a micro-catchment of the Central Black Sea Region, Türkiye”, EJSS, vol. 15, no. 3, pp. 363–374, June 2026, doi: 10.18393/ejss.1924804.

ISNAD

Pacci, Sena - Tosun, Sıla - Ertosun, Bedirhan - Bekar, Furkan - Dengiz, Orhan. “Spatial Assessment of Soil Quality under Different Land Use and Land Cover Patterns in a Micro-Catchment of the Central Black Sea Region, Türkiye”. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science 15/3 (June 1, 2026): 363-374. https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.1924804.

JAMA

1.Pacci S, Tosun S, Ertosun B, Bekar F, Dengiz O. Spatial assessment of soil quality under different land use and land cover patterns in a micro-catchment of the Central Black Sea Region, Türkiye. EJSS. 2026;15:363–374.

MLA

Pacci, Sena, et al. “Spatial Assessment of Soil Quality under Different Land Use and Land Cover Patterns in a Micro-Catchment of the Central Black Sea Region, Türkiye”. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science, vol. 15, no. 3, June 2026, pp. 363-74, doi:10.18393/ejss.1924804.

Vancouver

1.Sena Pacci, Sıla Tosun, Bedirhan Ertosun, Furkan Bekar, Orhan Dengiz. Spatial assessment of soil quality under different land use and land cover patterns in a micro-catchment of the Central Black Sea Region, Türkiye. EJSS. 2026 Jun. 1;15(3):363-74. doi:10.18393/ejss.1924804