Soil Analysis from Crime-Prone Areas of Sultanpur City for Forensic Aspect: A Research

Abstract

The soil is a crucial resource in many criminal trials and the same has received a recent research approach inrecent years, with numerous groups researching with objectives that allow for improved differentiation of soilprofiles. This investigation was conducted in 2022-2023 with the objective of assessment of soil characterizationfrom several areas in Sultanpur City, Uttar Pradesh. The primary goal of this study was to conduct a quantitativeanalysis of the samples using physical, chemical, microscopic and instrumental examination techniques. The soilsamples were collected from a depth of 0-15 cm and after analysing the samples, it was found that the colour of thesoil varies according to its composition. Soil features like texture, stickiness, plasticity, density, pH, and percentageof soluble sulphate were examined using different physical and chemical tests. Soil texture was classified underthe sandy clay loam category and stickiness and plasticity were measured to be less, medium or more. The soildensity ranged from 1.794 g/cm3 to 2.479 g/cm3. The pH of the soil samples was overall acidic, ranging from6.27 - 7.77. The percentage of soluble sulphate in soil varied from 0.11184 - 0.0864.A stereo microscope was used toobserve the granular and prismatic structures of soil samples. Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) was usedfor quantitative analysis of soil samples to measure the amount of trace elements present in the soil. The studyresults showed that each soil sample varied from another and the parameters used for soil profiling helped in thedifferentiation of these soil samples. The results from this study can be helpful in preparing soil which can furtherassist the forensic scientists in their investigations related to soil as evidence.