Assessment of Natural and Anthropogenic Impacts on Soils Based on Field, Laboratory and Geoinformation Data

The article compares the western and eastern parts of the Absheron Peninsula against the background of different anthropogenic loads, using digital images, field studies and laboratory analysis results. Based on all three approaches, it was established that the western part of the peninsula is subject to stronger negative anthropogenic impacts, including urbanization and man-made factors, as a result of which the influence of exodynamic processes on the soil cover has increased, and gray-brown soils, according to laboratory studies, have undergone more significant degradation. In contrast, in the eastern zone of the peninsula, where urbanization is developing more slowly, the anthropogenic impact is relatively weaker, and pastures and rangelands have been replaced by almond and olive orchards, which has led to an improvement in the condition of the soil cover.