Soil depletion due to urbanisation in the areas near the Po river (Municipality of Castel S. Giovanni, Sorbolo, Bondeno - Italy)

The loss of soil resources in Italy is particularly evident in the vast plain of the Po River Valley, where urbanisation has led to a progressive depletion of land surface. Built-up areas now cover around 9%, on average, of the total surface area, but in the most densely inhabited communities, lying mainly along the major artery of the Via Emilia, this figure may exceed 20%. The trend shows no signs of relenting, above all because of the demand for large surfaces generated by the tertiary sector. The phenomenon thus needs to be carefully controlled, especially as regards land located near the Po River and its main effluents. The soils in these areas have different pedogenetic and micro-morphological characteristics and support particularly demanding agronomic activities; though the levels of agricultural productivity match the highest levels in Europe, management of the land generally entails the maintenance of efficient water regulation networks. In this context there is a pressing need to investigate the dynamics of changes in land use in relation to soil quality, particularly areas that have undergone urban development.