The evaluation of forest fire severity and effect on soil organic matter based on the L*, a*, b* color reading system

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (11) ◽  
pp. 2660 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuto Sazawa ◽  
Takatoshi Wakimoto ◽  
Noriko Hata ◽  
Shigeru Taguchi ◽  
Shunitz Tanaka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Forest Fire ◽  
Fire Severity ◽  
Color Reading ◽  
Reading System

scholarly journals Changes in Soil Structure and Soil Organic Matter Due to Different Severities of Fire

2015 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 226-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimír Šimanský
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Structure ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Fire Severity ◽  
Size Fraction ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
The Other ◽  
Other Hand

Abstract The effect of different fire severity on the changes of the soil organic matter (SOM) and soil structure was evaluated. Soil samples were collected (May 2010) in the locality of Nitra-Dražovce (Slovakia) from the following plots: 1) control (unburned place), 2) low severity of fire and 3) higher severity of fire. The results showed that the content of water-stable microaggregates (WSAmi) increased by 20% in the area with a low severity of fire, but on the other hand, it decreased by 42% in the area with the higher severity of fire in comparison to control. The higher severity of fire resulted in a decrease of smaller size fractions of water-stable macroaggregates (WSAma) (0.5−0.25) and a low severity of fire resulted in the decrease of WSAma 2−0.5 mm. On the other hand, the content of WSAma in the size fraction >5 mm was higher by 54% and by 32% in the lower and higher severity of fire, respectively, than in unburned soil. The higher severity of fire had a more positive effect on increases of the structure coefficient and coefficient of aggregate stability, as well as on the decrease of the vulnerability coefficient compared to the low severity of fire. After burning, the contents of soil organic carbon (Corg) and labile carbon were significantly increased by the severity of fire. However, the low severity of fire affected more markedly the increase of hot water-soluble and cold water-soluble carbon than the higher severity of fire. After burning and due to the severity of fire, both the carbon of humic and carbon of fulvic acids ratios and SOM stability increased. The parameters of SOM due to fire significantly increased also in WSA with the least changes in WSAmi. The results showed that a low severity of fire increased Corg mainly in WSAma >2mm and WSAmi, whereas high severity fire increased Corg content in the smaller fraction of WSAma.

Use of13C to monitor soil organic matter transformations caused by a simulated forest fire

2004 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 435-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Fernandez ◽  
Ana Cabaneiro ◽  
Serafín J. González-Prieto
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Forest Fire

Fire severity effects on soil organic matter from a ponderosa pine forest: a laboratory study

2010 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 613 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeff A. Hatten ◽  
Darlene Zabowski
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Ponderosa Pine ◽  
Fire Severity ◽  
Mineral Soil ◽  
High Severity ◽  
Hydrophobic Compounds ◽  
C And N ◽  
Labile Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Ponderosa Pine Forest

This study investigated the changes in soil organic matter composition by controlling fire severity of laboratory burns on reconstructed surface soil profiles (O, A1 (0–1 cm), and A2 (1–2 cm)). Laboratory burning simulated prescribed burns that would be typical in the understorey of a ponderosa pine forest at low, moderate, and high–moderate severity levels. Soils were analysed for C, N and soil organic matter composition. Soil organic matter was fractionated into humin, humic acid, fulvic acid, soluble non‐humic materials and other hydrophobic compounds. In the O horizon, low‐, moderate‐, and high‐severity treatments consumed an increasing proportion of C and N. Carbon content of the mineral soil was unaffected by burning; however, N content of the A2 horizon decreased after the moderate‐ and high‐severity treatments, likely as a result of N volatilisation. The proportion of non‐soluble material in the O horizon increased with fire severity, whereas the proportion of humin C as total C of the A horizon decreased with fire severity. The decrease in humin was followed by an increase in the other hydrophobic compounds. The higher fire intensity experienced by the burning O horizon created recalcitrant materials while an increase in labile soil organic matter was observed in mineral soil. An increase in labile soil organic matter may cause elevated C and N mineralisation rates often seen after fire.

Soil organic matter and aggregates affected by wildfire in a Pinus halepensis forest in a Mediterranean environment

2002 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 107 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Mataix-Solera ◽  
I. Gómez ◽  
J. Navarro-Pedreño ◽  
C. Guerrero ◽  
R. Moral
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Forest Fire ◽  
Soil Profile ◽  
Soil Structure ◽  
Organic Matter Content ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Crown Fire ◽  
Surface Fire

Three Mediterranean soils located in the north of the Province of Alicante (Spain) were studied for a year after a forest fire. The percentage of water-stable aggregates (between 0.2 and 4 mm) and organic matter content were measured. Microaggregates (< 0.2 mm) were observed using electron microscopy. The results showed the importance of type of forest fire on soil organic matter and aggregates. Soil structure was more affected by surface fire (which affects mainly brushwood and soil surface) than crown fire (which burns the tops of trees and some brushwood). Accumulation of organic matter from burnt trees and brushwood in areas affected by crown fire and alterations in organic matter content through the soil profile were observed. Surface forest fire affected soil structure more negatively than crown fire as observed using electron microscopy. Soils affected by surface fire may be more easily eroded and recovery of vegetation may be delayed because of effects on soil structure. Organic matter content through the soil profile comparing burnt and adjacent unburnt soil could be used to determine the type of fire.

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