The Role of Agricultural Soil Science in Forensic Evidence Detection and Crime Scene Analysis – Assist. Lect. Fatima Basim

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Agricultural soil science is an important scientific discipline concerned with studying the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil and understanding their effects on plant growth and agricultural productivity. However, its importance extends beyond agriculture to forensic science, where soil can serve as valuable physical evidence linking individuals, objects, and locations during criminal investigations. Soil contains a complex mixture of mineral particles, organic materials, and biological components. Its characteristics vary from one location to another depending on parent rocks, climatic conditions, agricultural practices, and vegetation. These differences can provide useful information when comparing soil samples collected from crime scenes with samples recovered from shoes, clothing, vehicle tires, or tools. Agricultural activities significantly influence soil composition. Fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation systems, and cultivation practices may alter the chemical characteristics and elemental concentrations of soil. Laboratory techniques such as Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) can be used to examine soil components and identify differences between samples. In forensic investigations, soil color, particle size, mineral composition, and organic content may help forensic scientists compare questioned samples with reference materials. Additionally, pollen grains and microorganisms found in soil can provide further information about the environmental characteristics of a particular location. Agricultural soil science is particularly useful in investigations involving the movement of bodies, concealment of evidence, and transportation of people or vehicles between different locations. Nevertheless, similarities between soil samples do not independently establish that they originated from the same location. Scientific conclusions must be supported by appropriate comparative analysis and additional evidence. In conclusion, agricultural soil science represents an important connection between environmental sciences and forensic investigations. Modern soil analysis techniques contribute to crime scene reconstruction and support the scientific interpretation of physical evidence.