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

References

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