Exploring the spatial relationship between soil quality index and soil ecosystem services driven by social-ecological factors: A peri-urban case study in central China

[Display omitted] •OC, CEC, and AK were selected as the minimum dataset for constructing the SQI.•SQI-SES relationships varied spatially, showing both positive and negative correlations.•Four distinct zones were clustered based on the SQI-SES relationships.•Impacts of 11 social-ecological factors on zones were identified to guide policy-making. Urban expansion has profound impacts on soil quality in peri-urban areas. Understanding the intricate spatial relationship between soil quality index (SQI) and soil ecosystem services (SESs) in response to social-ecological factors is crucial for achieving sustainable soil utilization and management. In this study, a total of 485 soil samples were collected from different land-use types (including paddy field, dry land, orchard, and forest) in peri-urban areas of a city (Nanchang) in central China. The assessments of soil quality based on SQI and SESs were conducted using multi-source heterogeneous data. We determined the spatial relationships between SQI and six SESs using bivariate spatial autocorrelation analysis, and deciphered the role of 11 social-ecological factors in driving SQI–SES relationships across different zones. The results showed that SQI and SESs exhibited significant spatial clustering (P