Effect of vehicular pollution on physicochemical parameters and accumulation of heavy metals along roadside soils in Sonamarg forest ecosystem

In an attempt to evaluate the effect of vehicular pollution on physicochemical parameters and accumulation of heavy metals on soil along roadside in Sonamarg forest ecosystem, soil samples from three different locations (Sonamarg, Baltal, Thajwas) comprising of disturbed and undisturbed sites were collected. The results indicated that the soils at all the study sites fall in the sandy loam class. Significant increase was recorded in soil pH and electrical conductivity in disturbed sites during both autumn and spring seasons. Moisture content was found higher at undisturbed sites in both the seasons and spring season recorded higher moisture content than the autumn season at all the locations and sites as well. Results showed that the heavy metals were of the ranges: Pb (0.173-1.283ppm), Zn (1.215-4.045ppm), Ni (0.637-1.753ppm), Cu (0.425-1.124ppm) and Cd (0.037-0.093ppm) respectively. Soil heavy metal concentration significantly decreased with increase in distance from the roadside. Autumn season showed higher depositions of heavy metals along the road than the spring season. Furthermore, the concentration of Zn was observed to be highest followed by Ni, Pb, Cu and Cd with mean values of 4.045, 1.753, 1.283, 1.124 and 0.093 ppm respectively.