A review of the effects of forest fire on soil properties (original) (raw)
Related papers
Effects of fire on properties of forest soils: a review
Oecologia, 2005
Many physical, chemical, mineralogical, and biological soil properties can be affected by forest fires. The effects are chiefly a result of burn severity, which consists of peak temperatures and duration of the fire. Climate, vegetation, and topography of the burnt area control the resilience of the soil system; some fire-induced changes can even be permanent. Low to moderate severity fires, such as most of those prescribed in forest management, promote renovation of the dominant vegetation through elimination of undesired species and transient increase of pH and available nutrients. No irreversible ecosystem change occurs, but the enhancement of hydrophobicity can render the soil less able to soak up water and more prone to erosion. Severe fires, such as wildfires, generally have several negative effects on soil. They cause significant removal of organic matter, deterioration of both structure and porosity, considerable loss of nutrients through volatilisation, ash entrapment in smoke columns, leaching and erosion, and marked alteration of both quantity and specific composition of microbial and soil-dwelling invertebrate communities. However, despite common perceptions, if plants succeed in promptly recolonising the burnt area, the pre-fire level of most properties can be recovered and even enhanced. This work is a review of the up-to-date literature dealing with changes imposed by fires on properties of forest soils. Ecological implications of these changes are described.
Impact of forest fire on physical, chemical and biological properties of soil: A
2012
Forest fire is very common to all the ecosystems of the world. It affects both vegetation and soil. It is also helpful in maintaining diversity and stability of ecosystems. Effect of forest fire and prescribed fire on forest soil is very complex. It affects soil organic matter, macro and micro-nutrients, physical properties of soil like texture, colour, pH, Bulk Density as well as soil biota. The impact of fire on forest soil depends on various factors such as intensity of fire, fuel load and soil moisture. Fire is beneficial as well as harmful for the forest soil depending on its severity and fire return interval. In low intensity fires, combustion of litter and soil organic matter increase plant available nutrients, which results in rapid growth of herbaceous plants and a significant increase in plant storage of nutrients. Whereas high intensity fires can result into complete loss of soil organic matter, volatilization of N, P, S, K, death of microbes, etc. Intense forest fire results into formation of some organic compounds with hydrophobic properties, which results into high water repellent soils. Forest fire also causes long term effect on forest soil. The purpose of this paper is to review the effect of forest fire on various properties of soil, which are important in maintaining healthy ecosystem. Keywords forest soil; wildfires; soil organic carbon; plant available nutrients; soil dwelling invertebrates; soil physical characteristics.
European journal of forest research, 2024
Anthropogenic fires pose a serious threat to many terrestrial ecosystems because they can cause loss of biodiversity and carbon stocks in the biosphere. Specifically, wildfires impacting natural conservation areas such as European Natura 2000 sites (N2K) are of particular concern. The main study objective was to evaluate the long-term effects of wildfires on the organic layer and some physical, chemical and biological properties of the underlying soil mineral layer, linked to soil quality. Here, we studied two coastal Mediterranean Aleppo pine stands within an N2K site differing for the fires' years of occurrence, the time between fires (TBF) and the time since last fire (TSLF) throughout 24 years. Furthermore, in each stand, differences in fire frequency (FF) were considered by selecting three sites-double-fire, single-fire and control (unburnt). Our results show the absence of the O-layer in double-fire sites, indicating a loss of this organic carbon (if compared to control) pool of 204 g m −2 in R2F and 139 g m −2 in M2F. Despite this loss being offset by the C org increase in soil mineral layer, the disappearance of O-layer may compromise the ecosystem services provided by soil. In each stand, long-term fire effects were evident at both single-fire and double-fire sites for some chemical as well as biological soil properties and depended on TSLF. Increased rates of nitrogen mineralization and nitrification were found at all burned sites, persisting up to 24 years post-fire. Soil quality indicators data highlighted the recovery handicap of the microbial community within the considered period. Since our outcomes showed wildfires enduring consequences, mainly relating to TSLF and FF, on different organic and mineral soil properties, we advocate employing prompt strategies to mitigate recurring fires.
Soil Science Society of America Journal, 2001
to mimic natural processes (Arno et al., 1995), there is a growing need to better understand the effect of fire Although studies have addressed the influence of fire on soil bioon nutrient availability, particularly N. Biochemical chemical processes, there have been no reports on how prescribed fire followed by wildfire influences microbial activity and nutrient processes in forest soils are highly sensitive to environcycling. Over a 21-mo period we monitored changes in soil nitrogen mental change, and therefore, can provide important (N) and carbon (C) of a ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa P.&C. information about early ecosystem response to manage-Lawson) and Douglas-fir [Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca (Beissn.) ment activities (Diaz Ravina et al., 1996; Trasar-Cepeda Franco] forest (both O horizon and 0-10 cm of mineral soil) that had et al., 1998). Prior research has shown that both lowbeen exposed either to prescribed fire (PB), wildfire (WF), prescribed intensity prescribed fires and high-intensity wildfires infire three months prior to wildfire (PBWF), or no fire as an unburned crease short-term N availability in mineral soils (Giocontrol. Total N, potentially mineralizable N (PMN), NH ؉ 4-N and vannini et al., 1990; Fritze et al., 1992; Prieto-Fernandez NO Ϫ 3-N concentrations in surface (0-10 cm) mineral soils were signifiet al., 1998); however, studies also indicate that inorcantly increased immediately after WF. Soils exposed to prescribed ganic and labile N concentrations will remain reduced fire prior to wildfire also had elevated concentrations of total N, PMN and NH ؉ 4-N, but were significantly lower than in WF alone. Potentially for an indefinite period of time, depending on burning mineralizable N was significantly reduced on all fire-exposed sites intensity, soil water content, climate, and other ecologifrom 9 mo to the end of the study period. Although mineral soil cal drivers that impact postdisturbance recovery (Prieto-NO Ϫ 3-N concentrations in fire-exposed soils were similar to the un
Impact of forest fire on soil quality and resilience potential: A review
AFRICA DEVELOPMENT AND RESOURCES RESEARCH INSTITUTE, 2020
The incidences and intensity of impairment by forest fire has substantially increased in past few decades owing to the increased population and subsequent human interference. It poses comprehensive adverse ecological, economic and social implications due to its detrimental consequences on forest ecosystem, ranging from direct destruction of trees to undesirable effect on forest regeneration, microclimate, soil properties, erosion and biodiversity etc. The sustainability of a forest system depends upon a range of aspects, of which soil quality is one of the key factors. Several studies have reported the effect of forest fire on soil chemical, physical and biological characters suggesting a sharp transformation in soil functioning after the devastation. Fire imparts significant alterations in chemical, physical and biological properties of soil, which generally impacts the future productivity and sustainability of a soil ecosystem.
Advances in forest fire effects on soils 2009
2009
This volume comprises the abstracts of the contributions that were accepted to be presented at the meeting.-- The oral presentations are divided into 7 different sessions covering the various chemical, biological and physical aspects of fire impact on soils.-- Congress held in Sevilla-Cortegana (Huelva), Nov 4-6, 2009.
Effects of wildfires on flora, fauna and physico-chemical properties of soil-An overview
Journal of Applied and Natural Science, 2014
Fire is one of the most destructive threats faced by our forests. Fire is good servant but a bad master. The fire season starts in March/April continues up to June. Wildfires destroy not only flora (tree, herbs, grassland, forbs, etc.) and their diversity but also considerable long term negative impact on fauna including wild endangered species. Repeated fires can convert some shrub-lands to grass and fire exclusion converts some grassland to shrub-land and forest. Fires affect animals mainly through effects on their habitat. The extent of fire effects on animal communities generally depends on the extent of change in habitat structure and species composition caused by fire. Fire can also influence a physico-chemical property of soil including texture, color, bulk density, pH, porosity, organic matter, nutrient availability and soil biota. Drought, disease, insect infestation, overgrazing or a combination of these factors mayincrease the impact of fire on an individual plant species...
Effects of prescribed fires on soil properties: A review
Science of The Total Environment, 2018
The reason for preserving soils is the great value of this non-renewable resource. • Prescribed fires can be used to manage fuel avoiding negative effects. • Soil effects depend on fire and soil type, seasonality, residence time and periodicity. • Physical and biological properties can be affected by prescribed fires.