Short-term effect of wildfire on the chemical, biochemical and microbiological properties of Mediterranean pine forest soils |
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Authors: | T Hernández C García I Reinhardt |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Soil and Water Conservation and Organic Waste Management, Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura (CSIC), PO Box 4195, E-30080 Murcia, Spain, ES;(2) CEBAS, PO Box 4195, E-30080 Murcia, Spain, Tel.: (68) 215-717; Fax: (68) 266-613; e-mail: mthernan@natura.cebas.csic.es, ES |
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Abstract: | The short-term effects of wildfire on the characteristics of Mediterranean pine forest soils, exposed to semiarid climatic
conditions, were evaluated by measuring different chemical, biochemical and microbiological parameters 9 months after the
fire. Soils in which the fire had been intense showed higher electrical conductivity values than unburnt soils. All burnt
soils had higher contents of nitrates, exchangeable NH4
+ and available P and K while their contents of total organic C, extractable C, humic acids, water-soluble C and total and
water-soluble carbohydrates were, in general, lower than those of unburnt soils. Microbial biomass-C in burnt soils represented
from 50% to 79% of that of unburnt soils; basal respiration and dehydrogenase activity were also negatively affected by fire.
In general, fire decreased urease and N-α-benzoyl-l-argininamide hydrolysing protease activities. Alkaline phosphatase activity in burnt soils was 29–87% that of the respective
unburnt control soil. Arylsulphatase activity was also lower in burnt soils as was β-glucosidase activity, although in this
case the differences from values of unburnt soils were not always statistically significant.
Received: 15 July 1996 |
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Keywords: | Basal respiration Microbial biomass-C Carbon fractions Hydrolase activity Macronutrients Wildfire |
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