Effect of fire occurrence through the time on changes of K, Mg, Ca and EC of forest soil

Document Type : Research article

Authors

1 M.Sc. Graduated, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran.

Abstract

The forests located in Kurdistan province, in particular the Marivan forests, are assessed to be substantially vulnerable to wildfire hazard due to the Mediterranean climatic regime within the region. A research was designed here to explore the effects of periodic wildfires on soil nutrient.  A total number of 40 soil samples were collected, consisting of 10 samples from 0-20 cm depth within 3 Persian oak (Quercus brantii) stands which were previously affected by fire in 2005, 2008 and 2010, as well as 10 samples from a fire-unaffected natural stand as control treatment. The soil properties were analyzed within the taken samples, which showed the Ca, Mg and EC content to be higher in the burned soils compared to those within the control treatment. Furthermore, the more currently-occurred fire resulted in a higher amount of the three nutrient elements. Concentration of potassium was also shown to be higher in the burned soils, with an exception of the burned soil of 2008 fire.

Keywords


- Aliehyaii, M. and Behbahanizadeh, E.A. 1992. Methods of chemical analysis of soil. Institute of Soil and Water Research, Agriculture Ministry, Technical Publications, 120p (In Persian).
- Arocena, J.M. and Opio, C. 2003. Prescribed fire-induced changes in properties of sub-boreal forest soils. Geoderma, 113:1-16.
- Banej Shafiei, A., Akbarinia, M., Azizi, P. and Eshaghi Rad, J. 2010. Impacts of fire on some chemical properties of forest soil in north of Iran (Case study: Kheyroudkenar forest). Iranian Journal of Forest and Poplar Research, 18(3): 365-379 (In Persian).  
- Cammeraat, L.H. and Imeson, A.C. 1999. The evolution and significance of soil-vegetation patterns following land abandonment and fire in Spain. Catena, 37(1): 107-127.
- Debyle, N.V. 1976. Soil fertility as affected by broadcast burning following clear-cutting in northern Rocky Mountain larch/Douglas-fir forests. Proceeding of the 14th annual Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Conference, Missoula, 8-10 Oct. 1976: 446-464.
- Ekinci, H. 2006. Effect of forest fire on some physical, chemical and biological properties of soil in canakkal, Turkey. International Journal of Agriculture & Biology, 8: 102-106.
- Fatahii, M., 1993. Results of thirteen years restoration project of west oak hardwood by coniferous species. Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Technical publications, 38p (In Persian). 
- Gholami Mafi, D., Noori Kamari, A. and Sadeghi, Sh. 2009. Effect of fire on forest ecosystem. Abstracts of the Second International Conference on Health, Safety and Environment, Iran, 5-6 Oct. 2009: 223-224 (In Persian).
- Goh, K.M. and Phillips, M.J. 1991. Effects of clear-fell logging and burning of a Nothofagus forest on soil nutrient dynamics in South Island, New Zealand-changes in forest floor organic matter and nutrient status. New Zealand Journal of Botany, 29: 367–384.
- Gonzales J., Cala V. and Iglesias T. 1996. Forms of Mn in soils affected by a forest fire. Science of the Total Environment, 181:231-236.
- Hematboland, E. 2006. Effects of fire on chemical and physical soil properties in Marivan forests. M.Sc. thesis, Faculty of Natural resources, Tarbiat Modarres University, Noor, 85p (In Persian).   
- Hernandez, T., Garcia, C. and Reinhardt, I. 1997. Short-term effect of wildfire on the chemical, biochemical and microbiological properties of Mediterranean pine forest soils. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 25: 109-116.
- Iglesias T., Cala V. and Gonzalez J. 1997. Mineralogical and chemical modifications in soils affected by a forest fire in the Mediterranean area. Science of the Total Environment, 204(1): 89-96.
- Jafari Haghighi, M. 2002. Methods of Soil Analysis (sampling and important physical & chemical analysis with emphasis on theoretical & applied principals). Published by Nedae Zoha, 236p (In Persian). 
- Johnson, D.W. and Curtis, P.S. 2001. Effect of forest management on soil C and N storage: Meta analysis. Forest Ecology and Management, 140: 227-238.
- Knight, H. 1966. Loss of Nitrogen from the forest floor by burning. Forestry Chronicle, 42:149-152.
- Kutiel, P. and Inbar M. 1993. Fire impacts on soil nutrients and soil erosion in a Mediterranean pine forest plantation. Catena, 20:129-139.
- Macadam, A. 1989. Effects of prescribed fire on forest soils. Ministry of Forests Research, Technical Report, 15p.
- Molavi, R., Baghernekgad, M. and Adhami, A. 2008. Effects of forest fire and burning of waste agriculture on changes of clay minerals and some physio-chemical surface layer soil. Journal of Science and Technology of Agriculture and Natural Resources, 49: 99-110 (In Persian).
- Nazari, F. 2010. Effect of fire severity on dynamic of forest soil nutrients under laboratory condition. M.Sc. thesis, Faculty of Natural resources, Kurdistan University. 86 p (In Persian).
- Richter, D.D., Markewitz, D., Wells, C.G., Allen, H.L., April, R., Heine, P.R. and Urrego, B. 1994. Soil chemical change during three decades in an old-Field loblbly pine (Pinus taeda L.) ecosystem. Ecology, 75(5): 1463-1473.
- Singh, S. 1956. The formation of dark colored clay-organic complexes in black soils. Journal of soil Science, 7(1): 43-58.
-Ulery A.L., Graham R.C. and Amrhein C. 1993. Wood-ash composition and soil pH following intense burning. Soil Science, 156: 358-364.
- Wattez J. and Courty M.A. 1987. Morphology of ash of some plant materials. Soil micromorphology. In: Fedoroff, N., Bresson, L.M. and Courty, M.A., (Eds.). Proceedings of the Seventh International Working Meeting on Soil Micromorphology, Association Française pour l'Étude du Sol, Plaisir, France: 677-683.
- Wells, C.G., Campbell, R.E., DeBano, L.F., Lewis, C.E., Fredriksen, R.L., Franklin, E.C., Froelich, R.C. and Froelich Dunn, P.H. 1979. Effects of fire on soil: a state-of knowledge review. USDA Forest Service, General Technical Report, 34p.