Effects of urban green space types and historical Land Use/ Land Cover on soil health: Implications for sustainable management

Urban green space management is shifting from intensive maintenance toward sustainable practices in response to climate change and biodiversity loss. While reduced management intensity can enhance ecosystem services such as soil carbon storage, its impacts on overall soil health have been studied less extensively. We evaluated soil health using a composite index of key physical and chemical soil properties across six urban green space types (woody stands, single trees, hedges, wildflower meadows, shrubs, and short-cut lawns) in Giessen, Germany. High-resolution digital orthophotos were used to map Land Use/Land Cover. Soil samples were collected from 120 sites at three depths (0–1, 1–10, and 10–30 cm), totaling 360 samples. Significant differences were observed among green space types in soil health indicators, including soil organic carbon, nitrogen stocks, SOM/clay, C/N, Soil Stability Index, and macronutrient levels. Less intensively managed areas, such as woody stands and wildflower meadows, showed higher soil health status than intensively managed lawns (43.1, 32.5, and 21.7, respectively). Converting 100 m² of lawn to wildflower meadows could increase carbon storage, the key driver of the composite index, by approximately 160 kg. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) (CFI = 0.94) showed that both current and historical green space types like woody stands (β = 0.51), hedges (β= 0.22), wildflower meadows (β= 0.05), and past woody stands (β= 0.31) influence soil health. These findings support the development of urban soil health maps and underscore the value of sustainable green space management in enhancing urban soil health and long-term carbon storage. • Composite index assessed soil health across six urban green space types. • Woody vegetation showed superior soil structure and high carbon storage. • Short-cut lawns were linked to compaction and low soil organic matter. • Improved management could enhance carbon sequestration in short-cut lawns. • Soil health maps identified priority areas for sustainable green space planning.