Urban Gardens’ Potential to Improve Stormwater Management: A Comparative Analysis among Urban Soils in Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brazil

Carina Júlia Pensa Corrêa,Kelly Cristina Tonello,Ernest O Nnadi,Fredrick U Mbanaso

doi:10.3390/su14052965

Carina Júlia Pensa Corrêa, Kelly Cristina Tonello + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su14052965

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Abstract

Permeable surfaces are increasingly rare in urban centers, but they have the utmost importance for stormwater infiltration. In this context, green spaces are key to reducing problems caused by runoff. This work aimed to evaluate the physical characteristics of the soil used for agroecological gardening, in comparison with parks, wasteland, and riparian forest in Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brazil. During the one-year data collection, urban gardens were superior to other areas in hydraulic conductivity (35.8 mm h−1), humidity (25.8%), and soil penetration resistance (1.21 MPa). On the other hand, the riparian forest showed signs of soil degradation, with low water infiltration rates (121.9 mm h−1) and humidity (14.4%). These findings highlight the importance of better soil management solutions to avoid compaction, such as the protection and conservation of riparian forests. Furthermore, the encouragement of urban gardens and parks with multiple uses can be an option for the enhancement of stormwater management in cities, since this practice has the potential to improve the physical characteristics of urban soils and provide several ecosystem services.

Highlights

Stormwater management in large centers has been traditionally based on gray infrastructures, with concrete sinks, runoff collection, transportation pipelines, and wastewater treatment facilities [1,2]
Parks have the potential for diversified use, with the establishment of urban gardens and other green infrastructures in its perimeter
With few permeable spaces in large urban centers, the diversification and multiplication of ecosystem services provided by these spaces could serve to improve environmental quality in cities

Summary

Introduction

Stormwater management in large centers has been traditionally based on gray infrastructures, with concrete sinks, runoff collection, transportation pipelines, and wastewater treatment facilities [1,2]. There are alternatives focused on water infiltration that can improve water management, such as blue-green infrastructure, urban green spaces, and urban river parks [3]. These spaces can reduce peaks and urban runoff volumes and prevent various social and environmental problems [4–7]. They can generate ecosystem services such as thermal comfort, improved air quality, increased biodiversity, landscape connectivity, pollinator attraction, and population well-being [8–13]. The number of these techniques is gradually increasing worldwide, their large-scale application is still challenging [14,15], and there are still few cases of green infrastructure application and success in Brazilian cities [16]. Arboriculture deserves special consideration as rainwater control and there are several applications in urban cities, where trees are integrated in the urban landscape [17]

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